The European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) is organising an in-person side event during the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on 26 November 2024, together with the KTNC Watch, Human Rights Now (HRN), Environmental Rights Foundation (ERF) and TTNC Watch. Titled “No mHREDD, No Smart Mix – Developing Effective Legal Frameworks in East Asia” this session will bring together leading experts and organisations to discuss the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) in East Asia, focusing on the need for a robust, legally binding framework to ensure corporate accountability.

As legislation such as the European Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is under discussion, the session will address key challenges, highlight opportunities for change, and emphasise the need for preventive measures in line with international standards such as the OECD Guidelines and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

This event will convene leading experts and organisations to discuss the implementation of mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (mHREDD) in East Asia, focusing on the need for robust, legally binding frameworks to ensure corporate accountability. With laws like the CSDDD serving as a potential example, the session will address key challenges, highlight transformative opportunities, and emphasise the need for preventive measures aligned with international standards such as the OECD Guidelines and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

A call to action will be made for a stronger and more effective mHREDD framework to prevent human rights and environmental violations, with a focus on promoting binding legislation in East Asia to ensure effective corporate accountability.

This event will also commemorate the launch of the report “Labour, Environment and Asian Transnational Corporations – Toward an East Asian Business and Human Rights Movement: Cases from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.”

• Opening remarks: Introduction to the theme, focusing on the transformative potential and limitations of mHREDD, particularly in East Asia.
• Regional impacts and case studies: Presentations on the human rights impacts of business activities in East Asia, with an emphasis on the need for binding legal frameworks that adhere to international standards.
• Policy Dialogue: Towards global action on mHREDD Legislation: A panel discussion addressing the challenges, opportunities, and importance of stakeholder engagement in advancing business and human rights (BHR) legal frameworks in East Asia.
• Conclusion: Summary of key insights and recommendations for strengthening mHREDD laws, along with a call to action for stakeholders.
• Q&A
• Closing Remarks

Join us to explore how East Asia can develop and implement effective mHREDD frameworks to promote a sustainable and responsible corporate environment globally.

Moderator: Pichamon Yeophantong (UN Business and Human Rights Working Group)

• Yujung Shin (KTNC Watch)
• Ryutaro Ogawa (Human Rights Now)
• Hsin Hsuan Sun (Environmental Rights Foundation)
• Nele Meyer (European Coalition for Corporate Justice)

• What: in-person event
• When:: Tuesday, 26 November |  13:30-14:30
• Where: The CAV (Ground Floor, Rue de Varembé 1, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland) In-person only
• Mandatory registration: register HERE
• Organisers: KTNC Watch, Human Rights Now (HRN), Environmental Rights Foundation (ERF)/TTNC Watch, and the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).
• Co-organisers: International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the OECD Watch.

For further information and support, please get in touch with Human Rights Now, Business and Human Rights Project – info@hrn.or.jp