Liew attends forum on business and human rights
KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Law Datuk V.K Liew attended the inaugural UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights (BHR) in New Delhi on March 14- 15.
The two-day Inaugural Forum was organized by the UN Working Group on BHR and the UNDP Asia Pacific with focus on countries in the South Asian region, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, which are making progress in accelerating economic developments and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The key objectives of the forum included highlighting business and human rights issues and identifying opportunities for effective implementation of the UNGPs in the region.
The forum also aimed at encouraging peer learning amongst state and businesses in South Asia and facilitating regional exchange of good practices and comparative experiences from other regions of Asia where the business and human rights discourse is already progressing.
The forum was attended by participants from 16 countries (about 230 registered participants) comprising representatives of various ministries from the governments of the South Asian countries, business corporations, civil societies and National Human Rights Institution (NHRIs).
The minister also attended a close door meeting with the Chair of the UN Working Group on BHR, UNDP representatives from Asia Pacific and Suhakam.
Discussions among others included BHR issues and strategies in resolving and addressing corporate human rights violations in Malaysia, BHR National Action Plan and potential collaboration with UNDP in the development of research, projects, roundtable dialogues and other awarenessraising efforts in promoting the National Action Plan and the BHR agenda in Malaysia.
The event was also attended by Suhakam commissioner Prof Dato’ Dr Aishah Bidin, UNDP BHR specialist Sean Lees, Chair of UN Working Group on BHR, Professor Dr Surya Deva and UNDP Asia Pacific BHR advisor Livio Sarandrea.