PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN BUSINESS CHAINS: A COLLABORATION BETWEEN WWF-INDONESIA, EPISTEMA AND KOMNAS HAM

Jakarta, Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - As part of its commitment to support ethical and responsible business practices towards human rights (HAM), WWF-Indonesia together with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and Epistema Institute started the initial step of developing a Human Rights Due Diligence Instrument, designed in line with the National Commission on Human Rights' Standard Norms and Regulations (SNP) Number 13 on Business and Human Rights. The discussion also presented a number of stakeholders, including Aditya Bayunanda, CEO of WWF-Indonesia, and Dr. Prabianto Mukti Wibowo, M.Sc., as Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs and Complaints Commissioner of Komnas HAM. Academic views also enriched the discussion through the presence of Prof. Dr. Iman Prihandono, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, and Dr. Patricia Rinwigarti, Director of Djokosoetono Research Center, Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia to ensure that human rights due diligence instruments can be effectively implemented in Indonesia.

This step marks WWF-Indonesia's active involvement in encouraging businesses to become more aware of the impact of their business operations on human rights, both directly and through their supply chains and partners. This is becoming increasingly relevant in the midst of increasing cases of human rights violations, including land acquisitions, conflicts with indigenous peoples, environmental damage, and pollution that affect people's health and livelihoods.

What is Human Rights Due Diligence?

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) is a systematic process undertaken by companies to:

• Identify potential and risks of human rights violations,

• Preventing and mitigating the negative impacts,

• As well as designing effective recovery measures when a breach has occurred.

This process is important because in practice, companies have the potential to be involved in situations that impact human rights, either directly or indirectly. For example, risks can arise through substandard labor practices, less participatory land acquisition processes, or through the involvement of business partners. In addition, companies may also face the risk of being linked to human rights violations committed by other parties in the supply chain, even if they are not the primary actors.

Referencing the Global Instruments on Business and Human Rights

The preparation of this due diligence refers to and is in line with key global instruments on business and human rights, including: UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, ILO Declaration on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and International Human Rights Treaties (ICCPR, ICESCR, ILO Conventions) which serve as a common foundation of basic rights that must be respected by businesses worldwide.

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Reference to these instruments helps ensure that Indonesia's human rights due diligence approach is aligned with international standards and has global legitimacy.

Challenges and Principles that Need to be Realized

The development of this instrument is not only administrative, but must also address various challenges in the field. For example:

• How to assess human rights impacts in land acquisition practices that potentially marginalize indigenous peoples?
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• How to assess the impact of waste and environmental damage on public health?

• How to measure losses due to loss of livelihoods?

To that end, the Human Rights Due Diligence preparation process will be conducted in a transparent, multi-stakeholder, and communicative manner. This means that all stakeholders ranging from the government, private sector, civil society, to vulnerable groups will be meaningfully involved in the consultation and decision-making process.

Leading the Change (LtC) Program Support

This initiative is supported by WWF's Leading the Change (LtC) program implemented in 15 countries including Indonesia. LtC focuses on strengthening civil society capacity, environmental protection, and the promotion of human rights, especially for indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups who are often affected by large-scale investments.

In Indonesia, LtC is actively;

- Promoting the implementation of the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)

- Facilitate dialogue between local communities, businesses, and government

- Raise awareness of the private sector on the importance of human rights-based due diligence

- Raise awareness of the private sector on the importance of human rights-based due diligence.

- Building a more inclusive and equitable policy ecosystem.

In Indonesia, the LtC program actively contributes to encouraging fairer and more responsible business practices. This effort is realized through various initiatives, such as encouraging the application of the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), facilitating dialogue between local communities, business actors, and the government, and increasing private sector awareness of the importance of implementing human rights-based due diligence. In addition, LtC also plays a role in building a more inclusive and equitable policy ecosystem, to ensure the protection of the rights of communities affected by business activities.

Towards a More Humane Business

This initial initiation was an important step in establishing the direction and initial framework within which the writing and drafting team would build the draft instrument.

Through this initiative, WWF-Indonesia hopes to create a business ecosystem in Indonesia that not only pursues profit, but also upholds human values. With the existence of a measurable and accountable Human Rights Due Diligence Instrument, companies will have clear guidelines for conducting business in a sustainable and fair manner for all parties. Ultimately, businesses that respect human rights are the foundation for an inclusive and sustainable economic future.