Background

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From Myanmar to the southern Philippines and Papua in Indonesia, business operations and supply chains in the Asia-Pacific are increasingly exposed to conflict, political repression, humanitarian emergencies, and environmental volatility. These overlapping and escalating crises are redefining what it means to operate responsibly in the region. As the geopolitical landscape becomes more volatile, companies are under growing pressure to understand their impacts and responsibilities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs). The UN and other regulatory developments in Europe and beyond now require not only human rights due diligence (HRDD), but heightened HRDD in these settings, where the stakes, expectations, and risks are dramatically amplified. In this context, business as usual is no longer enough. 

 

This interactive workshop will immerse participants in real-world decision-making challenges in CAHRAs. Participants will step into the shoes of diverse stakeholders, including roles of corporate functions (e.g., procurement, public affairs, sustainability), to investors, and civil society actors, as they grapple with dilemmas drawn from actual business scenarios in high-risk environments. 

 

Through facilitated breakout exercises, participants will collaboratively explore: 

 

• What due diligence expectations apply in CAHRAs, and how do they differ from standard approaches? 

 

• How should companies balance risk to people with operational realities in fast-evolving crises? 

 

• What actions are feasible when leverage is limited, or when disengagement may itself create harm? 

 

Scenarios may include dilemmas such as maintaining supplier relationships in militarized zones, navigating reputational risk tied to state-linked entities, or responding to escalating violence and instability that disrupts operations and endangers workers. Participants will consider how their organizations can respond not only to human rights risks, but also to crisis-driven disruptions that require agility, preparedness, and values-based decision-making. 

 

The session will begin with a brief framing presentation on the evolving global and regional policy landscape, linking the discussion to international regulatory developments, the UN Guiding Principles, emerging mHRDD legislation, and National Action Plans. It will conclude with a plenary discussion to gather reflections from each breakout group and distill cross-cutting insights and recommendations for responsible business practice and crisis-responsive due diligence in the Asia-Pacific.

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Key Objectives

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• Participants understand heightened human rights due diligence (HRDD) requirements specific to conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs), distinguishing them from standard due diligence practices.

• Participants gain insights into practical strategies for balancing operational realities with responsible business obligations during rapidly evolving crises in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Participants develop awareness of actionable responses and effective decision-making frameworks when facing limited leverage or ethical dilemmas related to disengagement.

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Guiding Questions

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• How do human rights due diligence expectations change when operating in conflict-affected and high-risk environments, and what specific challenges do these heightened expectations present to businesses?

• What considerations should guide companies in balancing human rights risks against operational continuity in situations of escalating political, humanitarian, or environmental crisis?

• What actions are realistically feasible and responsible for businesses to take when leverage is limited or when the act of disengagement itself could lead to further harm?

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Format

• Workshop​

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Session Partners