Yangon Conference on Human Rights and Agribusiness

Large-scale agribusiness (particularly monoculture plantations such as oil palm and sugarcane) causes widespread human rights violations and environmental degradation in Southeast Asia. This pervasive industry was the focus of a workshop held from 4-6 November 2014 in Yangon, Myanmar, which was convened by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, with the support of the Forest Peoples Programme, RECOFTC-The Center for People and Forests, and the Rights and Resources Initiative.

With 65 participants from the South East Asian National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) and supporting civil society organisations, including from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand, the workshop addressed interlinked issues such as extraterritorial investments, migrant labour and human trafficking, and food security, and illustrated the range of experiences and modalities of each National Human Rights Institution. In addition to series of panel presentations, the workshop featured engaging break-out groups on transitioning from voluntary to binding standards for transnational and other companies, and on improving, scaling up and innovating upon conflict resolution mechanisms at various levels. On the final day, participants adopted by consensus the Yangon Statement on Human Rights and Agribusiness in Southeast Asia, which calls for (among other things) strengthened regional cooperation with the Association of South Eas Asian Nations (ASEAN) Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights, establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Court and effective national-level complaints and redress mechanisms, and active coordination with certification bodies such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

ECCHR Workshop on Transnational Accountability

From 19-21 March in Manila, Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) attended a workshop on judicial and quasi-judicial instruments for holding transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations. The workshop was organised by the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) with the Philippine-Misereor Partnership and generously supported by Misereor and Brot fur die Welt (Bread for the World).

As the final of a series of regional workshops held over the past 3 years, it aimed to address the problem of accountability of transnational corporations involved in grave human rights violations by jointly developing strategies for litigation for cases from the the mining, palm oil, and manufacturing sectors. It included practical considerations such as uncovering internal corporate structures, collecting evidence for proving cases in court, and dealing with power dynamics between lawyers and communities. Soft-law mechanisms such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Dispute Settlement Facility and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and community instruments such as biocultural community protocols were also discussed. Participants were primarily lawyers and non-profit organisations and networks from South East Asia, as well as legal experts from Europe, the U.S., and Latin America.

Holly would like to thank Jerbert, Clod, and Claudia for their meticulous organisation of the workshop and all of the participants and supporters for making it such a memorable experience.

Workshop on Legal Tools and Agricultural Investments in Bangkok

Palm oil development in peninsular

Malaysia. 

From 7-8 March, Harry Jonas (Natural Justice) attended a workshop on Legal Tools for Accountability in Agricultural Investments for South East Asia hosted by Focus on the Global South and the International Institute for the Environment and Development.

Participants engaged with a range of issues over the two days, including: investment protection and promotion in the ASEAN; national legal frameworks; human rights mechanisms; government investor and farmer-investor contracts; and international regulatory frameworks. The workshop was held in Bangkok, and was preceded by a public forum held at Chulalongkorn University entitled: Rethinking Policy and Legal Frameworks for Inclusive and Sustainable Investments in Agriculture in South East Asia.

Harry thanks colleagues at Focus and IIED for what was a useful and thought-provoking few days.

Workshop on Legal Empowerment in Southeast Asia

Rooftops in Jakarta.

From 6-7 November in Jakarta, Indonesia, Harry Jonas (Natural Justice) attended a two-day workshop on legal empowerment in Southeast Asia. Hosted by Namati, the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Indonesian Legal Resource Centre, and the TIFA Foundation, the workshop brought together over 30 lawyers and legal specialists focusing on legal empowerment in the region. Over the two days, the group heard presentations, engaged in participatory methodologies and developed a forward-looking strategy for the region. Participants also assessed how to ensure that justice issues are referenced in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals process, which they considered to be a particularly strategic approach to creating systemic change. On behalf of the Natural Justice team, Harry thanks the organizers for the opportunity and looks forward to supporting next steps.

Palm Oil and Bioenergy Strategies in SE Asia - Regional Seminar

Via SEI

As the cultivation and processing of palm oil and other biofuel foodstocks continues to expand in Southeast Asia, increasing its economic significance with support from international finance institutions, regional development banks, and governments, the region is witnessing unprecedented land use changes and changes in the exploitation of natural resources and local livelihoods. In this context, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is hosting a regional seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15-16 November 2012 on “Palm oil and bioenergy strategies in South East Asia: Review of field lessons and debate on ways ahead.” 

The seminar will seek to support the coordination of existing governmental policies, regulations and regional strategies for palm oil and bioenergy through the provision of lessons learnt and new research data from case studies on land use change and water resource management in palm oil plantations and feedstock processing. It aims to contribute to an evidence-based dialogue on the rigour of the existing strategies, and to consider how further implementation can be enhanced to promote sustainable production. The seminar will include presentations of national and regional bioenergy and palm oil strategies, lessons from case studies in Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, and a panel debate, involving participation from governments, regional development banks, companies and NGOs. 

The seminar will draw from the lessons the SEI has learned from its experience in the field, including case studies on community grievances and water governance in the oil palm sector in central Kalimantan, Indonesia (download here) and on how the European Union can revise its policies to support ‘sustainable’ palm oil cultivation (download here). SEI recently hosted at seminar on “Promoting Biofuels, Creating Scarcity?” in Brussels (learn more here).