The OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct and the National Contact Points (NCP): An Introduction to the Australian NCP (AusNCP)

The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) and the Australian National Contact Point (AusNCP) for the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Guidelines) are hosting a special series of webinars to build awareness of the work of the OECD Guidelines and NCPs.

This first webinar introduced participants to the content of the OECD Guidelines, with a focus on its complaint mechanism – the ‘National Contact Point’ or NCP. Each NCP is different and this webinar explained the AusNCP in more detail – and how it receives and handles complaints from civil society, NGOs and human rights defenders.

The webinar drew on the AusNCP’s experience of handling diverse complaints, and familiarity with outcomes in cases with other NCPs. The webinar examined good practice in the complaints process to engage with business and the role for remedy.

Facilitated by DTP, the webinar also drew on the lived experience of DTP alumni in Asia and the Pacific that have been affected by business conduct, and who have used the NCP process to seek remedy.

NOTE: At least half an hour will be allocated for questions and answers, and comments. Through the webinar, and after, useful resources and links will be shared.

Speakers

John Southalan is a mediator, lawyer and academic based in Perth. He has been a (part-time) Independent Examiner with the AusNCP since 2019, responsible for the management and mediation of complaints filed with the AusNCP about multinational compliance with the OECD Guidelines.

Laura Llewellyn leads the Australian Treasury’s work on the AusNCP. An economist by training, Laura has worked across the Australian Government on topics such as human capital formation, taxation policy and capital markets.

Respondent and Moderator

Pillkyu Hwang is a Korean lawyer, human rights advocate (and DTP alumnus) with extensive experience in working with affected communities and individuals to use the OECD Guidelines in relation to BHR cases in Asia.