Business and Human Rights Training for NHRIs in Asia

Training | 5-6 June

Business and Human Rights Training for NHRIs in Asia

By invitation only. For information, contact Harpreet Kaur, Business and Human Rights Specialist, UNDP at harpreet.kaur@undp.org

DATE AND TIME

5 June: 10:30-16:00 ICT
6 June: 9:00-11:00 ICT

Why focus on NHRI capacity?

Due to their unique institutional position, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are an important vehicle for influencing business and human rights (BHR) outcomes. In 2018, the UN Human Rights Council (resolution 38/13) explicitly recognized: ‘the important role of national human rights institutions in supporting activities to improve accountability and access to remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuse, including through supporting the effective implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’.

NHRIs can exert significant influence by raising awareness, conducting training, advocating with business and government, engaging in National Action Plan processes, recommending law reform and engaging with civil society and rights holders. In addition, NHRIs have the power to facilitate access to remedy both directly through their own procedures, and also indirectly through advocacy and capacity-building.

Objectives of the training

Identify the mandate and competence of NHRIs to address BHR issues and how they can work more strategically in this field.
Understand the international framework that guides regulation and advocacy in BHR and analyse emerging regulatory trends.
Identify and analyse stakeholder engagement techniques and approaches to BHR.
Use practical activities to develop strategies to improve knowledge and skills on BHR including on investigations, monitoring mechanisms and research and provide insight into campaigns, programs, activists, organisations and accountability mechanisms in BHR.
Develop connections with fellow NHRI representatives in the region to provide mutual support and potential collaboration on BHR.

Training format

The training will be conducted over two sessions on 5-6 June in Bangkok. It will be structured as a collaborative and discursive programme that will build knowledge by engaging participants in discussions and practical exercises to improve their capacity to engage with BHR issues. The in-person training is complemented by a self-paced virtual course that will enable participants to continue learning beyond the in-person training.

The trainers will be Professor Justine Nolan (Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW Sydney) and Associate Professor Martijn Boersma (University of Notre Dame Australia).

Date and time:

5 June: 14:00-17:00 ICT
6 June: 10:00-12:00 ICT

Note: There will be a short online orientation prior to the in-person training, the date and time of which will be shared with registered participants.

For more information, please contact Harpreet Kaur, Business and Human Rights Specialist, UNDP at harpreet.kaur@undp.org.

Organizers

Day1 programme

Speakers

Justine Nolan

Justine Nolan is the Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute and a Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW Sydney. She has published widely on business and human rights and modern slavery and advises companies, NGOs and governments on these issues. Prior to joining UNSW, Justine practiced as a corporate lawyer and an international human rights lawyer in Australia and the USA. She is the Executive Editor of the Australian Journal of Human Rights and an Editorial Board Member of the Business and Human Rights Journal.

Martjin Boersma

Martijn Boersma is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia, where he is the director of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking postgraduate programs. His research focuses on the intersection of business and society. Recent publications examine improving the regulation of modern slavery in Australia, strategies to improve labour conditions within the cotton value chain, the strategic enforcement of labour standards in the cleaning industry, and the impact of market-based activism for social change.

Ahmed Shahid

Dr. Ahmed Shahid is a freelance consultant who specialises in human rights, public policy, governance and leadership. He has more than 30 years of professional experience in diverse careers including teaching, school management, trade policy, commercial diplomacy, human rights and research. He has worked for the Maldives government, independent state institutions and the private sector. His research and consultancy specialisations include economic, social and cultural rights, National Human Rights Institutions, governance, leadership and public policy.
Dr. Shahid holds a PhD (International Law- specialized in human rights) from the University of Sydney (Australia); Master of Arts International Development, Public Policy and Management from the University of Manchester (UK) and Bachelor of Arts Economics and Management from the University of South Pacific (Fiji). In addition, he also holds a Graduate Diploma in International Law from the University of Sydney (Australia); Diploma in Trade Policy from the National University of Singapore (Singapore); Diploma in Education from Regional College of Education, Mysore (India) and Certificate of Primary Teaching from the Institute for Teacher Education (Maldives).
From 2010-2012, Dr. Shahid headed the secretariat of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives as the Secretary General. Over the last decade, he has completed multiple projects in Maldives and several countries in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Europe, for clients including the government of Maldives, various UN agencies and other international organisations in the areas of human rights and governance. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Senior Adviser to the Danish Institute for Human Rights (Denmark). He has published in international refereed journals in the area of human rights and social movements. He has also participated and presented research papers in several national and international conferences and seminars. He is currently working as a capacity development consultant for the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).

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

Training | 5-6 June

Business and Human Rights Training for NHRIs in Asia

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Why focus on NHRI capacity?

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

Training | 5-6 June

Business and Human Rights Training for NHRIs in Asia

DATE AND TIME

Why focus on NHRI capacity?

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Objectives of the training

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Training format

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Speakers

Contact us

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