Session 3: The State Duty to Protect: Opportunities and challenges in developing National Action Plans - The ASEAN Experience

• ASEAN governments - led by their respective National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) - are increasingly concerned about business and human rights issues, because of the rise in the number of human rights complaints received related to business activity. In Thailand for example, the 3^rd highest number of human rights complaints received by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) is against the private sector.
• Currently, there is momentum for National Action Plans (NAPs) from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and most recently Thailand. For a few countries, including Thailand, NAPs came up as a recommendation from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. It was stressed that this link is crucial.
• If ASEAN wants to attract FDI and economic activity, it must take BHR issues seriously. Business activity cannot go unmonitored and unbridled without negative long term consequences which are difficult, if not impossible, to undo.