The OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) Promoting Human Rights through the Supply Chain

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 webinar will have a focus on the importance of the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) to the efforts of (Australian) companies to prevent forced labour and modern slavery and other abuses through their supply chains, specifically focusing on issues regarding forced migration and modern slavery.

It will pick up on the importance of informing and engaging companies and clarify their responsibilities especially in relation to due diligence. It will highlight the importance of civil society organisations and the OECD Guidelines as a useful advocacy tool for affected communities, their organisations and representatives. The webinar will be facilitated by DTP and will draw on the lived experience of DTP alumnus 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 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 McManus is Director, Strategy and Business Engagement, at the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner's Office. Prior to joining the Office, Laura was Head of Human Rights at Woolworths Group, where she has led the Group’s response to the Australian Modern Slavery Act.

Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna is a DTP alumna, trainer and is the Founding Director of Our Journey, a civil society organisation advocating for an internationally compliant migration system and migrant rights in Malaysia. Sumitha is also the Chairperson of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), DTP’s key partner in Asia driving migrant rights advocacy initiatives globally with memberships across 22 countries in Asia.