Latest news with #RegionalWorkshop
Barnama
18 hours ago
- Business
- Barnama
ASEAN Urged To Infuse Gender Lens In Human Rights Agenda
PETALING JAYA, June 30 -- Chair of AICHR and Malaysiaâs Representative to AICHR, Edmund Bon Tai Soon, speaking to the media after chairing The AICHR Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN at Courtyard Kuala Lumpur South, today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- ASEAN must step up its efforts to incorporate gender perspectives into the business and human rights agenda to ensure inclusive regional development. Malaysia's Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Edmund Bon Tai Soon said while ASEAN has progressed in promoting gender equality, the women across the region still face structural barriers that prevent their full participation in decision making and economic life. bootstrap slideshow 'Business and human rights are not solely about trade regulations or governance, but it impacts people especially women and girls, and those from vulnerable and marginalised communities whose voices have often been excluded from decision-making. 'These barriers remain deeply entrenched in our societies and too often, business structures and practices appear gender-neutral, but continue to reinforce inequality in effect,' he said in his remarks at the Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN here on Monday. He emphasised that gender discrimination in business settings remains both a cause and a consequence of broader inequality, particularly for women and girls, and should be recognised as a form of violence. 'We see on our TV screens, we see in the media, news about war and genocides, that is actual violence, that is physical violence, that is something that we are against. 'But structural and cultural discrimination is also a form of violence, and I think that is something that we need to localise,' he said. Bon added that ASEAN must ensure its frameworks reflect the lived realities of women and girls in line with international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights.
The Star
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Asean urged to infuse gender lens in human rights agenda
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Asean must step up its efforts to incorporate gender perspectives into the business and human rights agenda to ensure inclusive regional development. Malaysia's Representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Edmund Bon Tai Soon said while Asean has progressed in promoting gender equality, the women across the region still face structural barriers that prevent their full participation in decision making and economic life. "Business and human rights are not solely about trade regulations or governance, but it impacts people especially women and girls, and those from vulnerable and marginalised communities whose voices have often been excluded from decision-making. "These barriers remain deeply entrenched in our societies and too often, business structures and practices appear gender-neutral, but continue to reinforce inequality in effect,' he said in his remarks at the Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in Asean here on Monday. He emphasised that gender discrimination in business settings remains both a cause and a consequence of broader inequality, particularly for women and girls, and should be recognised as a form of violence. "We see on our TV screens, we see in the media, news about war and genocides, that is actual violence, that is physical violence, that is something that we are against. "But structural and cultural discrimination is also a form of violence, and I think that is something that we need to localise,' he said. Bon added that Asean must ensure its frameworks reflect the lived realities of women and girls in line with international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights. "As global standards such as the UNGPs continue to shape international expectations and up-and-coming regulations to reflect, Asean must also evolve to ensure that our frameworks reflect the lived realities of women and girls in our region and that they are not treated as an afterthought in economic growth,' he said. The two-day regional workshop, held in Kuala Lumpur from 30 June to 1 July, aimed to explore how a regional gender lens framework can help address gender-based barriers, tackle structural and cultural discrimination, and enhance the protection of the human rights of women and girls. It was jointly supported by Asean Member States through the AICHR Fund, the Government of Japan via the Japan-Asean Integration Fund (JAIF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with relevant Malaysian ministries and agencies, as well as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). - Bernama
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Suhakam calls for Asean legal framework to tackle gender discrimination in business
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean must work towards a cohesive and enforceable legal framework to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the business sector, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Vice-Chairperson Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Tengku Abdul Hamid today (June 30). He said that the region still lacks binding legislation and institutional accountability to effectively address gender-related harms in business environments. "Our legal frameworks remain fragmented. Without enforceable laws, gender equality continues to be more aspirational than operational," he said at the Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in Asean, here. Tengku Mohamed Fauzi said that women in the region continue to face unregulated discrimination in recruitment, contract negotiations, and promotions, particularly in the private sector and without binding legislation and institutional accountability, gender equality remains aspirational and operational. He added that the Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, endorsed by all Asean member states, could serve as a foundation to address gender-specific issues, especially concerning migrant women in business contexts. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Edmund Bon Tai Soon, urged Asean to move beyond fragmented national efforts and adopt a shared regional framework that holds both governments and businesses accountable to clear and consistent gender rights standards. "Having a legal framework is very crucial. We are a diverse region, but we must develop a framework, especially now that Malaysia has led the adoption of the new Asean Community Vision 2045, which commits to uplifting and protecting the rights of women and children," he said. Bon also emphasised that beyond policies and laws, genuine progress requires strong political will and commitment from Asean leaders. He said companies must ensure their internal policies reflect principles found in national laws and those policies must be respected in practice, not just on paper. The two-day regional workshop, which began on June 30, explores how a regional gender lens framework can address gender-based barriers, confront structural and cultural discrimination, and strengthen the protection of the rights of women and girls across Asean. The event is jointly supported by Asean Member States through the AICHR Fund, the Government of Japan through the Japan-Asean Integration Fund (JAIF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and organised in collaboration with Malaysia's ministries, agencies and Suhakam. — BERNAMA
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
SUHAKAM Calls For ASEAN Legal Framework To Tackle Gender Discrimination In Business
By Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- ASEAN must work towards a cohesive and enforceable legal framework to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the business sector, said Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Vice-Chairperson Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Tengku Abdul Hamid on Monday. He said that the region still lacks binding legislation and institutional accountability to effectively address gender-related harms in business environments. bootstrap slideshow 'Our legal frameworks remain fragmented. Without enforceable laws, gender equality continues to be more aspirational than operational,' he said at the Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN, here. Tengku Mohamed Fauzi said that women in the region continue to face unregulated discrimination in recruitment, contract negotiations, and promotions, particularly in the private sector and without binding legislation and institutional accountability, gender equality remains aspirational and operational. He added that the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, endorsed by all ASEAN member states, could serve as a foundation to address gender-specific issues, especially concerning migrant women in business contexts. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Edmund Bon Tai Soon, urged ASEAN to move beyond fragmented national efforts and adopt a shared regional framework that holds both governments and businesses accountable to clear and consistent gender rights standards. 'Having a legal framework is very crucial. We are a diverse region, but we must develop a framework, especially now that Malaysia has led the adoption of the new ASEAN Community Vision 2045, which commits to uplifting and protecting the rights of women and children,' he said. Bon also emphasised that beyond policies and laws, genuine progress requires strong political will and commitment from ASEAN leaders.
