With the theme "Realizing Access to Effective Remedy," the 2017 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights was held on 27-29 November at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland​. The 3-day forum is an annual global platform for stock-taking and lesson-sharing on efforts to move the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

During one of the forum's parallel sessions, entitled "Moving forward with National Actions plans on business and human rights and implementing Pillar III in Southeast Asia", ACN CEO Mr. Thomas Thomas attended the sharing of insights from the ASEAN region. Three (3) ASEAN countries spoke about their experiences in formulating National Action Plans (NAPs)--Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Mr. Dante Pesce, Working Group member, and Sweden’s CSR Ambassador Diana Madunic, acknowledged the contributions of the ASEAN CSR Network in the region in terms of the advancement of CSR.

Indonesia also announced the appointment of a focal point for Business and Human Rights from the Coordinating Ministry of the Economy, Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo.

Left to Right: Mr. Thomas Thomas (ACN CEO); Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo (Indonesian Focal Point for BHR);
Mr. Rafendi Djamin (ACN Trustee and former AICHR Representative from Indonesia); Mr. Y.M. Junardy (President, Indonesian Global Compact Network)

 In addition, Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, Minister at the Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia, asserted the importance of political will in upholding human rights. He shared that Malaysia will implement the NAPs in 2018 and the formation of sectoral coalitions to strengthen practice of business integrity.