On 2 October 2015, ASEAN CSR Network participated in a roundtable discussion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The theme of the event was “Strengthening Corporate Respect for Human Rights: Roundtable on the UN Guiding Principles (UNGP) Reporting Framework and the Roles of Key Actors in Incentivising Improved Corporate Performance.”

The workshop introduced the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UNGP Reporting Framework by Shift and Mazars. Shift is an international non-profit organisation, chaired by Professor John Ruggie, and is the leader centre of expertise on the UNGPs. They work globally with business, government, civil society and international organisations to put the UNGPs into practice. Mazars is an international audit and advisory company.

Over the past two years, Shift has partnered with Mazars to develop the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework (UNGPRF) which was launched in London in February 2015.

There was a panel discussion at the event, moderated by Ms. Rachel Davis of Shift. The panellists included Professor Dato' Dr. Aishah Bidin, Suhakam; Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, UN Country Team; Mr. Thomas Thomas, ASEAN CSR Network; Mr. Rashyid Redza Anwarudin, Sime Darby; and Ms. Nor Azimah Abdul Aziz, Companies Commission of Malaysia. 

The panel discussed a number of key topics including:

• the respective roles of government, business and civil society in advancing business respect for human rights;
• Malaysia’s development of a Strategic Framework on Business and Human Rights;
• proposed new non-financial reporting requirements for Malaysian companies; and
• the relevance of the UNGP on Business and Human Rights and the UNGP Reporting Framework for leading companies and their stakeholders