As a follow-up to the User’s First Consultation-Workshop on UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) conducted a Workshop on Business and Human Rights in the Digital Environment last 10 October 2019 at St. Giles Hotel, Makati City.

The workshop provided a deeper appreciation and understanding on the relevant issues particularly on freedom of expression and privacy, good practices, and current efforts in promoting business and human rights in the digital environment.

The workshop focused on the three (3) pillars of the UNGP – (1) the state duty to protect against human rights abuses, (2) the corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and (3) greater access by victims to effective remedy, both judicial and non-judicial, and how to increase companies’ level of commitment to the UNGP.

Atty. Jesus Torres, OIC of the Economic, Social, & Cultural Rights Center of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), shared among the participants the states’ duty to protect against human rights abuses. He also reiterated that companies have a very important role to play in the national human rights agenda. He also offered CHR’s capacity to help businesses develop their own company policy on human rights, free-of-charge.

Meanwhile, Ms. Jessamine Pacis, Program Officer of the FMA, mentioned in her presentation that a company’s respect for data privacy and freedom of expression entails more trust and confidence from customers and suppliers in their products/services as well as more investment opportunities.

The workshop was attended by thirty-seven (37) representatives of ECOP member companies. To know more about this initiative, you may contact Mr. Neil Don Orillaneda, Advocacy and Communications Assistant, at [email protected].