ACN links responsible business conduct to equality and development for all at RWI discussion
On 18-19 December 2017 in Jakarta, ACN represented by Senior Programme Manager Ms Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao participated in the Focused Group Discussion “Influence of corruption on human rights protection in the context of and with linkages to environment”. Organised by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), the event was aimed at finding a basis for analysis of the impact of corruption on environmental sector and recommendations from the relevant stakeholders in Indonesia, with a potential to be scaled up at Asian regional level. The event successfully involved the participation of about 30 participants representing the government, legal enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector.
Speaking at the event, Ms Thao highlighted the interconnection between corruption, environmental degradation and human rights violations as three cross-cutting issues which requires an integrated and holistic solution approach. Corruption played a large role in the degradation of the environment, negatively affecting natural systems and their dependent communities. As majority of corruption cases in Indonesia and ASEAN involved the private sector, Ms Thao said it is important to engage the private sector in the collective discussion and fight against corruption. Promoting responsible business conduct and business integrity, accountability and transparency can contribute to the achievement of equality, justice and sustainable development for all, she said.
The event was part of RWI's Regional Asia Programme on Human Rights and Sustainable Development (2017-2021) of which ACN is partnering and taking the lead in the private sector engagement. In July-September 2017, ACN co organised a training programme with RWI for about 30 participants from the judiciary, National Human Rights Institutions and business community on the link between human rights and environmental protection.
