Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – On June 30, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR) held a regional workshop aimed at promoting inclusive gender equality in business and human rights activities. The workshop was hosted by Malaysia, the 2025 ASEAN Chair.
At the workshop, participants focused on establishing framework mechanisms to address structural and cultural gender discrimination challenges and strengthen the protection of women's and girls' rights. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and emphasized the framework's important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality, decent employment and economic growth, and reducing inequality.
Furthermore, participants shared practical experiences in effectively addressing challenges and obstacles to build robust measures to address current issues. This approach aligns with the AICHR's objective of supporting human rights protection efforts in policy-making, decision-making, and implementation by advising member state governments and businesses. This also aligns with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045's focus on promoting inclusive and sustainable development, and highlights the active role of the 2025 ASEAN Chair in advancing the "Business and Human Rights" agenda.
Dr. Pichamon Yeophantong, Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, emphasized the importance of raising awareness and adopting a gender equality perspective in the areas of business and human rights in his address at the conference.
In addition to the opening ceremony and concluding consultations, the seminar included five panel discussions, one of which, entitled "Integrating a Gender Perspective into Policy, Processes, Mechanisms and Business Activities," was chaired by Nguyen Thanh Trung, Representative of Vietnam to the AICHR.
This seminar was the first event of the AICHR prior to the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings (held in Kuala Lumpur from July 8 to 11). The AICHR's next activities include the release of a human rights thematic research report entitled "The Right to Peace" and a human rights training program themed "Peacebuilding: From Conflict Prevention to Lasting Peace." In addition, AICHR will submit several draft documents to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, including a five-year work plan for 2026-2030 and an annual report for 2025, covering progress, challenges and future directions.
