PH Represents AICHR in Business and Human Rights Workshop in Geneva

Philippine Representative to the AICHR and DFA Deputy Assistant Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau represents the AICHR Chair during the Workshop organized by OHCHR on business and human rights on 18-19 October 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo courtesy of OHCHR) 

GENEVA 20 October 2022 – The Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Aileen S. Mendiola-Rau represented the Chair of AICHR in the Workshop on Enhancing Cooperation Between the United Nations and Regional Mechanisms for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on 18 to 19 October 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau delivered an intervention on Agenda Item 3: The Role of Regional Human Rights Mechanisms in Contributing to Accountability and Remedy for Business-Related Human Rights Abuses, sharing that the right to effective remedy in the context of ASEAN is already enshrined in various documents adopted by the ten ASEAN Member States. 

“All these documents and individual state actions and AICHR activities, together, are the building blocks towards the institutionalization of the right of effective remedy in the ASEAN region. Of course, interpretation, implementation and particular focus of implementing the right is based on the capacity of each member state,” she emphasized. 

She presented several recommendations to move forward with the objective of strengthening regional human rights mechanisms and enhancing accountability and access to remedy. These include: strengthening the advocacy on business and human rights; ensuring that gender perspectives are imbedded in the business operations; establishing redress and accountability mechanisms; establishing a regional mechanism or framework on business and human rights; engaging the legislative and judicial bodies; using language tailored to specific stakeholders; and breaking the silos by working across all sectors and pillars. 

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau also echoed the positions of other speakers, calling stakeholders to sit down together, cooperate, and chart their National Action Plans.  

The Workshop gathered Representatives from governments, international and regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, and civil society to exchange views and good practices and lessons learned to further enhance their cooperation in the field of business and human rights. END

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau pushed forward recommendations on maximizing the role of regional human rights mechanisms on business and human rights. (Photo courtesy of OHCHR)

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mendiola-Rau is joined by Representatives from international and regional organizations and other stakeholders during the Panel Discussion. (Photo courtesy of OHCHR)