Forging a collective strategy: Asia Regional Strategy Workshop on Capacity Building for Advocacy on Business & Human Rights

From 13th to 18th September 2026, environmental defenders, Indigenous leaders, migrant representatives, feminist and youth movements, and civil society representatives gathered in Bangkok with the commitment to build a collective regional strategy on Business and Human Rights (BHR). Co-organized by Diplomacy Training Program (DTP), FORUM-ASIA, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Migrant Forum Asia, and Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI), the workshops reflected on lessons learnt and shared experiences against the backdrop of the 15th Anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights, commonly known as the UNGPs.

The workshops also bookended the UN Regional BHR Forum, which many DTP alumni were participating in.  Key discussions centred on demanding genuine Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and participation amid the global rush for transition minerals and renewal energy projects, fair and safe migration and an end to moder slavery in the supply chain.

A session also focused on AI and Human Rights.  Concerns are growing that the promise of AI for advancing human progress will be denied because its development is under the control of the rich and powerful and is so extractive of resources, including water, power, intellectual property and investment.  The drive for profits, and hostility to regulation is resulting in many harms – including to children, minorities and social relations.   Current models of AI development are also accelerating the climate crisis

To counter these growing threats and shrinking civic spaces, the workshops culminated in a concrete, cross-movement capacity-building strategy and action plan. Participants outlined a tiered framework for building capacity of movements to use human rights values, standards and mechanisms and to build collaboration and solidarity.

The core of the strategy features an annual five-day "BHR 101" foundational course on knowledge and skills, complemented by advanced training covering topics such as transition minerals, data center impacts, strategic litigation, strategic advocacy and many more. Participants also committed to establishing a new Asia BHR Solidarity Network guided by a cross-movement steering committee. The network will enable knowledge sharing, rapid solidarity actions, joint advocacy, and shared resources.