Fostering Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence: The impact of responsible business hubs in Asian textile and garment supply chains

Side Session | 8 June

12:30-13:45 ICT

Supporting Companies in the Implementation of Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence: Showcasing responsible business hubs in Asian pilot countries

Organized by:

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (Eurocham)
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)
The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA)

Background

In line with objectives of new German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, which became effective on January 1st 2023, and the upcoming European legislation on due diligence, the GIZ project “Initiative Global Solidarity” (IGS) promotes the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) in global apparel supply chains, especially in Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh. GIZ works strongly with local stakeholders to establish supplier support structures and capacities through “Responsible Business Hubs” (RBH). Responsible Business Hubs are local helpdesks that are informing, raising awareness, and advising manufacturers and brands on standards and requirements of HREDD and network them with services in the countries. The RBHs are hosted by strong local partners, namely EuroCham in Cambodia, BGMEA in Bangladesh and VCCI in Vietnam.

About the session

The session highlights the impacts of HREDD on manufacturers in Cambodia and Bangladesh and how support structures in the production countries such as Responsible Business Hubs (RBHs) are assisting the actors of the global supply Chains. The session will share country experiences from Asia.

Objectives

The key objectives of this session are to:

Raise awareness about the new German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains and the upcoming European legislation on sustainability due diligence.
Understand HREDD. Emphasizing the significance of integrating human rights and environmental due diligence into the operations of global apparel supply chains.
Share experiences and lessons learned from implementing HREDD Cambodia, and Bangladesh. This objective seeks to facilitate knowledge exchange by sharing country experiences.
Highlight the role of Responsible Business Hubs (RBHs). Showcase the services, tools, dialogue formats, and capacity-building measures provided by RBHs to address the requirements of HREDD.

Key questions

Panelists will reflect on the following questions:

RBH and its importance: the host organizations will share their motivation, commitment, and importance of RBHs in the sectors for Cambodia and Bangladesh.
Impacts of HREDD legislation: the speakers will elaborate what impacts HREDD legislation will have on the textile and garment manufacturers and the sector, how HREDD is approached and where are the biggest gaps in terms of fulfilling HREDD requirements in these countries.
Risk identification and mitigation: insights will be shared about the predominant social and environmental due diligence risks manufacturers face and what help is needed to mitigate those in the respective countries.
RBH services and tools: in order to address the biggest HREDD challenges in these countries, the RBHs collaborate with and provide tools to develop and capacitate suppliers, external service providers as well as sector initiatives. They will present tools, dialogue formats and capacity building measures to address the requirements of HREDD.

Day1 programme

Speakers

Lea Belitz

Jr. Advisor, IGS

Sara Monti

Sara Monti is an Italian qualified lawyer with 10+ years of experience in M&A, International Commercial Law and Corporate law at prestigious law firms in Milan, Beijing and Shanghai. She attained a Master Certificate from the Harvard Business School on Sustainable Business Strategy and a Certificate of Completion on Labour&Human Rights at the Council of Europe. She achieved a strong understanding of sustainability and responsible business practices acting as ESG consultant in the South-East Asia with specific expertise on sustainability and HREDD standards.
Based in Cambodia since 2020, she assisted the Textile Apparel Footwear and Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) in the procedure in front of the EU General Court about the Everything-But-Arms (EBA) withdrawal.
Currently acting as Senior Responsible Business Hub Coordinator at Eurocham with specific expertise on sustainability due diligence for global supply chains.
She is adjunct professor of Business & Human Rights at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh.

Reinhard Junker

Mr. Junker represents the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is acting head of the unit 120 “Sustainable Transition of Global Supply Chains”.
He started his service there three years ago, when negotiations on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act were initiated. His unit was significantly involved in these negotiations.

After the law was passed, Mr. Junker took over the coordination of the BMZ's support measures for the implementation of the legal requirements and steers the relevant instruments, such as the German helpdesk for business and human rights or the GIZ project "Initiative Global Solidarity" which also supports the establishment of “Responsible Business Hubs” in partner countries to inform stakeholders about mandatory due diligence requirements and to refer to the respective support measures.

He is also responsible for coordination of support measures at EU level in the framework of the “Team Europe Initiative on Sustainability in global Value Chains”. This initiative also includes a dialog with a mirror group of international organizations such as ILO, OHCHR and UNDP.

Sheik Mustafiz

As the Founder and Managing Director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd., Mr. Mustafiz has successfully led the company's transformation, implemented sustainable practices, and earned accolades such as the Step-Up Award for the project "Productivity, Social Responsibility, and Compliance." Under his leadership, employees are properly taken care off and the company has gained recognition as a leader in the field.
Building on their extensive experience and expertise, Mr. Mustafiz currently serves as the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Sustainability at the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association). In this role, he leads the organization's efforts in promoting sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals within the garment industry, furthering their commitment to responsible and ethical practices.

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan

Mr. Fazlee Shamim Ehsan the Vice President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association. He is also the Founder of Fatullah Apparels - The Greenest LEED Certified Knitwear industry in the world.Mr. Shamim Ehsan is a dedicated board member of BKMEA. He is very passionate about the development of the RMG Sector of Bangladesh. BKMEA is implementing many development activities in their member factories and supporting the workers' well-being under his leadership.

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

Side Session | 8 June

12:30-13:45 ICT

Supporting Companies in the Implementation of Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence: Showcasing responsible business hubs in Asian pilot countries

Organized by:

Background

About the session

Objectives

Key questions

Speakers

Contact us

Menu

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

Side Session | 8 June

12:30-13:45 ICT

Supporting Companies in the Implementation of Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence: Showcasing responsible business hubs in Asian pilot countries

Organized by:

Background

​

About the session

Objectives

Key questions

Speakers

Contact us

Menu