Day 3 | 9 June

Where is Disability in the Business and Human Rights Agenda?

14:00-15:30 ICT

Background

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) mandate that businesses have a responsibility to respect internationally recognized human rights, including the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability. However, the rights of persons with disabilities – together with the distinct intersectional challenges they are likely to face in accessing these rights – continue to be relatively overlooked in the business and human rights (BHR) agenda. While some progress has been made in relation to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the context of labour rights as a part of efforts to, for example, prevent workplace discrimination, persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to accessing and protecting their human rights. This is especially true in the Asia-Pacific region, where an estimated 690 million people live and work with a range of disabilities – with this number expected to grow in the coming decades.

Recent reports by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities have highlighted the responsibility of the disability service industry as well as the role of technology companies and their impacts on persons with disabilities, whilst noting the broader need for the business sector to embrace its responsibilities to respect human rights and become a partner for change (1).

To foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion that places persons with disabilities – as important rights-holders – at the center, this session will explore the current state of disability inclusion in the BHR agenda. In so doing, it will address the intersectional challenges and opportunities faced by persons with disabilities in the BHR context, as well as discuss current and potential strategies for enhancing the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the UNGPs.

About the session

This session will include 4-5 speakers from a variety of settings to share views on how mHRDD might give shape to a new social and economic landscape in Asia. To better understand the full potential of HRDD, and any tradeoffs, speakers will address the most controversial questions being asked by trade unionists, political analysts, business leaders and environmentalists.

Objectives

The key objectives of this session are to:

Identify and explore the extent to which the rights of persons with disabilities are currently featured in the BHR agenda;
Broaden the conversation in the Asia-Pacific region on disability and business to incorporate but also look beyond labour rights issues;
Discuss the policy and legal implications of disability inclusion within the BHR agenda by exploring pathways to enhance the effectiveness of existing frameworks and mechanisms;
Explore how the UNGPs can offer tools for companies to respect the rights of persons with disabilities within their operations, value chains, business relationships, and in society at large.
Showcase examples of good practices in the Asia-Pacific region where respect for the rights of persons with disabilities has been effectively integrated into corporate strategies and business operations, and where this integration has generated positive impacts on businesses’ performance.
Identify future focus areas in the BHR agenda related to the rights of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, including areas for research, advocacy, and action.

Questions

Panelists will reflect on the following questions:

Why is it important to amplify the voices and lived experiences of persons with disabilities in the global and regional BHR agendas?
To what extent are the rights of persons with disabilities being discussed in, and advanced by, the current business and human rights agenda within the Asia-Pacific region?
What are the BHR-related challenges and barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region?
How can States and businesses protect and actualize the rights of persons with disabilities in this region? What are some leverage points and examples of good practice?
How should businesses integrate their responsibility to respect the rights of persons with disabilities through their human rights due diligence (HRDD) processes? Put differently, what would a disability-sensitive HRDD process look like for business?

References

[1] A/HRC/52/32; A/HRC/49/5

Speakers

Saowalak Thongkuay

Saowalak Thongkuay has been a Committee member and expert on Human rights of Committee on the Determination of Gender Discrimination, established by the Gender Equality Act. Since 2016, she has given her comments in 60 cases, which were related to discrimination on the basis on gender equality and disabilities in the public and private in social, economics, and political rights and all cases are related to Thailand’s obligation under CRPD.

Khadga Bahadur Magar

Khadga Bahadur Magar is an indigenous rights activist belonging to the Magar Indigenous Nation of Nepal. He has been defending the Indigenous rights and the rights of Indigenous persons with disability in particular for the past 18 years. He is the President of Nepal Indigenous Disabled Association (NIDA), an umbrella organization of Indigenous Peoples with disability that works for indigeneity, gender and disability through intersectional lens.

Amba Salelkar

Amba Salelkar is a lawyer and moved into the disability policy advocacy space after a 7-year career in criminal trial litigation. Since 2012, she has supported organisations of persons with disabilities in India, including from underrepresented groups and women with disabilities, to participate in policy advocacy. She is a recipient of the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership & Excellence.
At the International Disability Alliance Amba is the Helpdesk Manager, focused on the provision of inclusive technical assistance to OPDs and partners. She is based in Chennai, India.

Robert McCorquodale

Robert McCorquodale is a member of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, a five-member group of independent experts, and is from Australia. He is Emeritus Professor of International Law and Human Rights at the University of Nottingham, and a barrister and mediator. Robert has 30 years of experience working in business and human rights, has published widely in this area, including by empirical research, and has advised business of all sizes and assisted governments and civil society around the world.

Priya Lukka

Priya Lukka is an economist in the OHCHR supporting countries in South East and South Asia. She has worked for over 25 years in the non-profit and international development sector with government policymakers, activists and philanthropists to improve outcomes for groups of people most marginalised by the economic system. Priya has contributed to an understanding of the impact of policies on debt, trade and tax. Priya has written on a range of issues, including on global economic governance and climate colonialism.

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

Day 3 | 9 June

Where is Disability in the Business and Human Rights Agenda?

14:00-15:30 ICT

Background

About the session

Objectives

Questions

References

Speakers

Contact us

Menu

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

Day 3 | 9 June

Where is Disability in the Business and Human Rights Agenda?

14:00-15:30 ICT

Background

About the session

Objectives

Questions

References

​

Speakers

Contact us

Menu