Climate Change, Business and Human Rights Program

I did the DTP training in Jakarta in 2007. It was on business and human rights and we did exercises on OECD National Contact Point (NCP) complaints. We looked at a case study of a Korean company in the Philippines. After the training, back home we actually filed a case on this to the Korean NCP, so it was really helpful! I am still in touch with several colleagues from the training; we meet at conferences or on joint projects.

About the program

Business impacts on the rights of marginalised and vulnerable communities that DTP works with, including Indigenous peoples, migrant workers, women and people with a disability. Business has critical responsibilities in relation to the climate crisis. DTP integrates content on Business and Human Rights and the human rights impacts of climate change into its thematic programs.

DTP began delivering dedicated capacity building programs on human rights and business in 2006. DTP’s business and human rights programs focus on building knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), the OECD Guidelines on Multi-National Enterprises and strategies and skills for engaging business and governments. DTP recognises the key role that civil society advocates can play in driving implementation of these standards, and holding business accountable.

DTP works closely with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

Over the past decade, DTP has seen an increase in its participants working on the impacts of climate change and interest in its programs from environmental human rights defenders. DTP began including content to protect and promote human rights in the context of climate change and government and business responses to climate change into its Business and Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples rights programs as well as the annual Human Rights and Peoples’ Diplomacy program. These programs build knowledge of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Last activity

OECD class photo
Jakarta, Indonesia

8 - 12 May, 2026

This 5-day capacity building training program included 26 NGO participants from across Indonesia – from Aceh to Papua. The participants work on issues of labour rights, including the rights of workers in the fishing and seafaring industries, and workers in the mining and palm oil industries, communities impacted by the environmental damages of mining and palm oil and deforestation, and the human rights and environmental impacts of waste industries. The program built awareness and understanding of key international standards on Business and Human Rights – and especially the OECD guidelines on responsible business conduct (RBC). The program contributes to civil society engagement in Indonesia’s OECD Accession process.

Key Issues

  • Deep sea mining
  • Land based mining
  • Forestry, Logging and Palm Oil
  • Lack of awareness of human rights and standards on BHR
  • Responsibilities of business to persons with a disability
  • Impacts of climate change on human rights

Partners

Links and resources

Home Page for the UN Sustainable Development Goals including a history and details of each of the 17 SDGs.
An introduction to UN guidelines defining who's responsible for addressing business impacts on human rights.

Past programs and events

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