Day 2 | 21 September

SESSION 2:

Business, Human Rights and Displaced Persons: Enhancing access to durable solutions

09:00-10:15 ICT

Background

Asia–Pacific hosts some of the countries with the highest number of displaced persons. Out of 89.3 million people who were forcibly displaced due to conflict or violence worldwide, a total of 10.6 million people were from Asia–Pacific countries as of end-2021 (UNHCR, 2021a). By the end of 2020, there were a total of 40.5 million new displacements of which 30 million were the result of weather-related hazards such as storms and floods (IDMC, 2021). The region also accounted for over half of the total number of new disaster-induced displacements being the most prone region to disasters (IOM, 2021).

The right to work and access to labour markets are key for displaced persons to become self-reliant, rebuilding their lives and securing their dignity (Roger Z., Héloïse R., 2018). Despite the efforts of governments, businesses, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to facilitate access to employment for displaced persons, they remain one of the most vulnerable populations to exploitation (IOM, 2019). This situation has worsened in the past years due to additional challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and continuing war and unrest (UNHCR, 2021b). Without a regular pathway for employment, large numbers of displaced persons are given limited options but to work in the informal sectors, which increases their exposure to exploitative conditions.

The nexus between business, human rights, and displacement is complex. While the primary duty and responsibility for providing humanitarian assistance to displaced persons lie with national authorities, private sector actors can play a transversal role across advancing protection, contributing to peace, and achieving prosperity (UNHCR, 2021c). This in turn will ensure the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals’ principle of “leave no one behind” and promotes sustainable livelihood of all.

This figure includes refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate, asylum seekers, Venezuelans displaced abroad and IDPs – in line with the illustration of UNHCR (n.d.).

Objectives

To understand the challenges faced by displaced persons in accessing labour markets, and explore how policy makers and businesses can support durable solutions to increase their resilience. In particular, the session will focus on labour mobility pathways, livelihood opportunities and access to employment support services for displaced persons. This multi-stakeholder session intends to bring together policy makers, private sector actors, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations from the Asia-Pacific region to explore their roles and responsibilities in mainstreaming displacement into business and human rights frameworks.

Guiding Questions

Panellists will reflect on the following questions:

Participation of displaced persons in formal labour markets, the access, barriers and opportunities;
Initiatives that provide fair, equal and decent work for displaced persons;
How can global businesses promote integration and protection of displaced persons in international supply chains?

Day1 programme

SPEAKERS

Damla Buyuktaskin

Ms. Damla Buyuktaskin is the Senior Regional Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer for Asia Pacific Countries in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She oversees the employment, entrepreneurship, skills building training programmes related to labor market integration of refugees, returnees, stateless and the internally displaced persons with the overall objective of self reliance in 43 countries of the region ranging from Kazakhstan to New Zealand and Pacific Island States. Previously she held the positions of Livelihoods Officer for Turkey and Regional Livelihoods Officer for Turkey, Middle East and North Africa. She has started her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur in Turkey, United States and the Netherlands and has dedicated more than half of it to development challenges. She worked for various United Nations agencies and donor funded projects in countries such as Turkey, Kuwait, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Austria throughout her work experience of 29 years. She is the author many publications such as the United Nations Post 2015 Development Agenda - Engaging with the Private Sector, Turkey Country Report for Sustainable Development Goals. Previously she served as Executive Commitee member for the Technology and Innovation Programmes of Tübitak, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey and is a Board Member of the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

Sungin Marshall

Ms. Sungin Marshall is Senior Manager for Human Rights and Development Partnerships within the Social & Environmental Affairs team at adidas, based in Hong Kong. At adidas, she manages projects and initiatives related to addressing modern slavery and forced labor risks in the supply chain and developing strategic partnerships on key social and labour issue areas, including partnering with IOM CREST on promoting responsible recruitment practices. Prior to her role at adidas, she led worker voice programs at ELEVATE, a business sustainability service provider.

Rachel Beck

Rachel Beck is the Global Partnerships Director at Talent Beyond Boundaries, where she works with a wide variety of external stakeholders to support, replicate, and adapt labour mobility programs around the world. Before joining TBB, Rachel held multiple roles with UNICEF, including in Kenya and South Sudan, as well as the U.S. refugee resettlement program at the International Rescue Committee. An American national, Rachel lives with her family in Sydney, Australia.

Farooq Ahmed

Mr. Farooq Ahmed is the Secretary-General of Bangladesh Employers Federation since 2009. He has been actively involved in reviewing of Labour Law, Labour Rules, policy on safety at workplace, creating awareness on responsible business conduct, etc in his country. He has wide experience in workplace cooperation, negotiations at enterprise level, crises management, and grievance handling. Currently he is also an employer member (Deputy) in the ILO Governing Body and a Management Board member in the International Training Centre of ILO in Turin, Italy. Mr. Ahmed has been a pioneer member in the global ‘Call to Action’ (c2t) initiative under the joint leadership of IOE, ITUC and ILO. He also sits in the global advisory committee of ILO’s Better Work Program nominated by IOE.

Geertrui Lanneau

Regional Thematic Specialist on Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion, IOM

United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific