UNDP and EU Harness the Power of Youth and Media as ‘Agents of Change’ to Advance Responsible Business in Thailand

January 9, 2025

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Bangkok, Thailand – December 9, 2024 – In a significant step towards advancing responsible business practices in Thailand, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) hosted a consultative dialogue, "Empowering Voices: A Consultative Dialogue on Youth and Media for Responsible Business in Thailand," at Siam Paragon, bringing together key voices from youth groups, media, businesses, and the government to discuss, promote and advocate for the critical roles of youth and media in driving corporate accountability and sustainability.

This consultative dialogue marked the launch of UNDP’s latest business and human rights initiative, the Agents of Change: Youth and Media for Responsible Business Practices project, funded by the European Union through an EU financial support of EUR 3,000,000. This project aims to harness the power of youth and media to hold businesses accountable for their human rights and environmental impact, thereby reinforcing Thailand’s ongoing commitments to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the Second National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights, while also strengthening Thailand's role as a three-year member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). With over 100 participants joining both in person and online, the dialogue highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in driving positive systemic change.

According to UNDP’s report on Laws and Measures Addressing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in the Context of Business and Human Rights, also funded by the European Union under the Business and Human Rights in Asia project (B+HR in Asia), in Thailand human rights defenders continue to be targeted by businesses. Activists and community leaders, including young defenders, also face significant risk of being subjected to defamation lawsuits. This highlights the persistent challenges on the advocacy roles of both youth and media. The Agents of Change project will play a crucial role in empowering media and youth to hold corporations accountable and support the government in developing and enforcing laws and measures to address human rights and environment violation effectively, while ensuring the safety of these change agents.

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Niamh Collier-Smith, UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand, emphasized the importance of empowering youth and media as drivers of corporate responsibility. “Youth are the voices, consumers, and entrepreneurs of today and of the future. The media is the 'fourth estate' of our society. They are not always included in essential conversations with policymakers and stakeholders. This limits their opportunity to shape business practices that protect and advance human rights and promote positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments. Human Rights are practical tools that can be used to address the biggest challenges facing the world today. When human rights are respected, human dignity is protected, and no one is left behind. Through the Agents of Change initiative, UNDP, in partnership with the European Union, will amplify the role of media and youth in building a strong culture of corporate responsibility in Thailand. This project not only advances Thailand’s Business and Human Rights agenda; it reinforces Thailand’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)," said Niamh.”

a group of people looking at each other — Niamh Collier-Smith, UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand, with Duangdao Kiatpisarnsakul, Deputy Director General of the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection

Laure Brachet, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Thailand, highlighted the EU’s commitment to advancing human rights and sustainable business practices globally. “The European Union is proud to support Thailand in promoting responsible business practices aligned with international human rights standards,” Laure said. “The EU has in the past years advanced towards mandatory legal requirements on business and human rights. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) marks the latest significant step forward in our collective efforts to introduce legal obligations for EU-linked companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence.”

a man holding a microphone — Laure Brachet, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to Thailand

Duangdao Kiatpisarnsakul, Deputy Director General of the Department of Rights and Liberties Protectionexpressed Thailand’s dedication to advancing corporate accountability and fostering a culture of respect for human rights. “Thailand has been a regional leader in business and human rights, becoming the first country in Asia to adopt a National Action Plan on BHR. We are proud to collaborate with UNDP, the European Union, and civil society partners to drive this agenda forward,” Duangdao said. “This consultative dialogue is a valuable opportunity to build on our achievements and further empower youth and media as advocates for responsible business in Thailand.”

a man wearing a suit and tie — Duangdao Kiatpisarnsakul, Deputy Director General of the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection

Key Highlights from the Dialogue:

Presentation of the Agents of Change Project: UNDP introduced the Agents of Change project, outlining its goals of amplifying the voices of youth and media in Thailand’s business and human rights landscape. Participants were invited to provide insights, perspectives and feedback, contributing to a collaborative approach that complements existing policy commitments.
Empowerment of Youth and Media: Discussions highlighted the unique roles of youth and media in promoting responsible business, holding corporations accountable, and fostering a sustainable, rights-respecting economy.
Call for Multi-stakeholder Collaboration: Representatives from youth organizations, the media, business sectors, and government agencies highlighted how cross-sector collaboration can drive a more inclusive and impactful approach to corporate responsibility in Thailand.

The Agents of Change project builds on the ongoing EU-funded project ‘Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR Asia): Enabling Sustainable Economic Growth through the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework’, implemented by UNDP. This new action seeks to complement existing policy commitments and encourage a more inclusive participation in the business and human rights agenda. Moving forward, UNDP will continue to collaborate with all sectors to ensure that the Agents of Change project, contributes meaningfully to Thailand’s business and human rights commitments, fosters youth and media engagement, and supports the country’s progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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For more information, please contact:

Tarinee Suravoranon, Project Manager, UNDP Thailand |Tarinee.suravoranon@undp.org |Mobile: +66922700529

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