Background

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In April 2022, UNDP and the Government of Japan kick-started the global project “Promoting Responsible Business Conduct in target countries where Japanese companies operate, with a particular focus on promoting human rights due diligence in global supply chains and leveraging the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for a just recovery”. The project is operational in Japan and 17 countries, including seven countries in the Asia-Pacific: Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The project is part of UNDP’s continued work on business and human rights, which has expanded to 25 countries since its inception in 2016.

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One of the project outputs is to support peer-to-peer exchange and learning among national authorities that receive technical support from UNDP to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This includes supporting the presence of government officials at the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum for Asia Pacific.  

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Leveraging the opportunity of the presence of government officials in Bangkok, UNDP is hosting an informal, closed-door and safe space Peer-to-Peer exchange and networking session among government delegates from Nepal, Pakistan, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam, and potentially Japan and other countries.

 

 

 

Objectives

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The key objectives of this session are to provide government delegates attending the Forum the opportunity to:

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• Meet, greet, and network with others for further interaction during the three days of the Forum

• Inspire and/or get inspired by others' commitments and actions in developing or implementing national action plans on business and human rights (NAP), as well as building national momentum on and enabling a responsible business environment for sustainable development

• Exchange and discuss challenges in implementing the UNGPs

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Participants (by invite only)

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Government officers and UNDP staff attending the 2022 UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum in the Asia-Pacific.

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Session Flow

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14:30 – 15:00  

Arrival, security check, and collect Ground Pass

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15:00 – 15:30  

Quick tour of the UN Conference Center and UN Compound in Bangkok Regional Hub  

15:30 – 15:35  

Welcome Remarks by Mr. Livio Sarandrea, Global Advisor on Business and Human Rights

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15:35 – 16:00  

Meet and Greet: Self-introductions by government delegates and UNDP B+HR team

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16:00 – 16:50

Governments' commitments on and implementation status of the UNGPs in respective countries

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Open and informal sharing/presentations by representatives from

• Nepal

• Pakistan

• Lao PDR

• Thailand

• Viet Nam

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16:50 – 17:15

Discussion on Challenges and Forward Looking Approach, Moderated by Mr. Livio Sarandrea, Global Advisor on Business and Human Rights

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17:15 – 17:30

Reflections by Participants

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