Our Work

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Business and Human Rights in Asia

Our Work

B+HR Asia

Promoting responsible business conduct in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

UNDP supports dialogue, training, and awareness-raising on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 14 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

We help governments develop and implement National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights and other policy frameworks. We also partner with civil society, including by providing grants to organizations that support human rights defenders. We also support companies in strengthening their human rights policies and practices — from developing human rights due diligence tools to delivering tailored training and supporting impact assessments and policy development.

Where We Work

South Asia

Bangladesh - India - The Maldives - Nepal - Pakistan - Sri Lanka

Southeast Asia

Cambodia - Indonesia - Lao PDR - Malaysia - Myanmar - Thailand - Viet Nam

Central and East Asia

Mongolia

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Our Focus Areas

NATIONAL ACTION PLANS ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

UNDP convenes stakeholders and provides advice to governments on the development of National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights. UNDP also facilitates forums during which civil society and human rights defenders encourage governments to act.

GENDER EQUALITY

UNDP guides States and businesses on how to integrate gender perspectives into UNGPs implementation in furtherance of women’s rights. UNDP also supports businesses in conducting human rights impact assessments to prevent gender-based discrimination.

RESPONSIBLE TRADE AND INVESTMENT

UNDP promotes policy coherence between the UNGPs and trade and investment policy, business regulation, labor laws, and other legal and regulatory frameworks that impact on business practices.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND DIALOGUE

UNDP convenes stakeholders to facilitate peer learning, South-South exchange, and capacity building on the UNGPs, including by organizing regional forums and dialogues on business and human rights

SUSTAINING PEACE

UNDP works with businesses to set up grievance mechanisms and complaint systems leading to greater access to justice and effective remedies. We advocate for businesses to apply a do-no-harm approach when engaging with conflict-affected communities.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

UNDP works with States to ensure they fulfil their duty to protect human rights, including environmental rights. We support businesses in conducting human rights and environmental impact assessments to prevent adverse impacts on the environment.

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

UNDP assists National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organizations working with human rights defenders to provide legal assistance in furtherance of remedies. For example, UNDP provides support to civil society organizations working on legal aid provision to human rights defenders, with a focus on environmental rights defenders.

Latest updates

News

Trainings Strengthen Business Capacity for Human Rights-Based Climate and Nature Strategies

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Publications

Building Responsible Smart Cities: A Toolkit for Public and Private Sector Actors

Smart cities promise innovation, efficiency, and improved quality of life, but without the right safeguards, they can deepen inequality, erode trust, and…

A young man speaking into a microphone at a round table, engaged in discussion with others.

News

Digital Media Roundtable Spotlights Journalists as Catalysts for Corporate Accountability on Human Rights and the Environment

In a fast-changing media landscape, the role of journalists and communicators in exposing harmful corporate practices and amplifying community voices has never…

News

Lao PDR Strengthens Commitment to Responsible Business Practices

UNDP and BHRJ workshop for Asian scholars

News

Workshop promotes Asian business and human rights scholarship

Scholars and academic institutions play a pivotal role in spotlighting the human rights impacts of business activities, fostering dialogue, and promoting…