Background

With over one-third of its population being youth, Mongolia has a vital opportunity to harness the potential of young people and the media to drive meaningful change. Despite strong freedom of expression, media outlets face financial and capacity constraints that limit in-depth reporting on critical issues like human rights and environmental abuses by businesses. Meanwhile, many young Mongolians struggle to find stable, well-paying jobs with safe working conditions and are vulnerable to exploitation, especially in the service sector, due in part to limited awareness of their rights. In response, Mongolia launched its National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (BHR) in July 2023, providing a framework for aligning business practices with international standards. The Agents of Change (AOC) project builds on this momentum by empowering youth and media to advocate for human rights and environmental accountability in business operations. Active in Mongolia and countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, AOC promotes the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) through engagement and capacity building. The project aims to foster an informed and active civil society, notably media and youth that drives responsible business conduct with stronger levels of protection and respect for human rights and the environment in business operations and sustainable economic growth.