European Union and UNDP partner to empower youth and media for responsible business practices in Mongolia

December 10, 2024

a group of people posing for a photo — UNDP Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, 10 December 2024 – The European Union and UNDP in Mongolia have launched a crucial initiative to promote responsible business practices, focusing on youth and media as key drivers of change. The project, Agents of Change: Youth and Media for Responsible Business, was unveiled at an Insights Forum held at the UN House in Ulaanbaatar to commemorate the International Human Rights Day being recognized under the theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.”

Implemented in Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, this regional initiative builds on and complements the ongoing “Business and Human Rights in Asia: Enabling Sustainable Development through the Protect, Respect, and Remedy Framework” (B+HR Asia) by adopting a bottom-up approach to advocate for human rights and environmental protections in business operations.

The forum showcased UNDP Mongolia’s efforts in advancing responsible business practices with the generous support from the European Union and provided a platform for youth and media professionals to share their perspectives and strategies for amplifying awareness and demand for corporate accountability.

a man wearing a suit and tie sitting in a chair

a group of people sitting at a desk in front of a crowd

a group of people standing in front of a crowd

“As we mark 35 years of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Mongolia and 20^th anniversary of partnership between European Union and UNDP, this partnership highlights our shared commitment to promoting human rights and sustainability,” said Her Excellency Ms. Ina Marciulionyte, the Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia. “By empowering youth and the media, we are supporting a new generation of advocates who can drive meaningful change in business practices and policies.”

The Agents of Change initiative seeks to train and upskill youth, especially those working in the private sector and media professionals including journalism students in business and human rights topics, leveraging their influence to amplify compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Activities will include capacity-building sessions, opportunities for media to develop communication products on BHR+E, and engagement with youth in the private sector to make positive changes in their work environment through their own initiatives.

“Responsible business practices are not just an ethical imperative but a pathway to sustainable development,” said Ms. Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia. “Through this project, we aim to strengthen the role of youth and media in holding businesses accountable while ensuring human rights and environmental standards are at the core of their operations.”

This initiative builds on the successes of the B+HR Asia project, also funded by the European Union, which primarily engaged policymakers and businesses to develop frameworks promoting human rights. The event, attended by approximately 60 participants, concluded with a call for collective action to achieve long-term impacts in responsible business practices. As the forum demonstrated, synergy between policy-driven approaches and grassroots advocacy is key to fostering sustainable economic and social progress.

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About UNDP

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For further inquiries:

Erdenesukh Otgonbayar | Communications Analyst | UNDP in Mongolia | erdenesukh.otgonbayar@undp.org

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