MALAYSIA TO LEAD ASEAN BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA FOCUSING ON GENDER EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY 30 JUNE – 1 JULY 2025
MALAYSIA TO LEAD ASEAN BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA
FOCUSING ON GENDER EMPOWERMENT AND EQUALITY
30 JUNE – 1 JULY 2025
Led by Malaysia’s Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and AICHR Chair 2025 Edmund Bon Tai Soon, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, AICHR will convene a Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN from 30 June to 1 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The workshop will explore how a regional gender lens framework can address gender-based barriers, tackle structural and cultural discrimination and strengthen the protection of the human rights of women and girls. It will examine the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework (UNGPs), with emphasis on progress and challenges in realising the Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and reduced inequalities.
Good practices on meeting challenges and barriers in seeking access to effective remedies on the matters will also be shared as AICHR aims to support ASEAN Member States through recommendations for governments and business enterprises to consider in their policymaking and practices. In line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, this workshop supports ASEAN’s inclusive and sustainable development efforts and reinforces Malaysia’s leadership in advancing a more gender-responsive business and human rights agenda.
The programme opens with remarks from Bon, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN Ambassador Kiya Masahiko, and Vice-Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Tengku Abdul Hamid. Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights Dr Pichamon Yeophantong will deliver the keynote address.
Jointly supported by ASEAN Member States through the AICHR Fund, Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in collaboration with Malaysia’s ministries and agencies and SUHAKAM, this workshop is one of Malaysia’s initiatives as the ASEAN Chair this year, reinforcing the country’s strong commitment to human rights within the framework of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
PUTRAJAYA
30 June 2025