Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2023

The 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

27-30 March 2023

This year, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) for South-East Asia is co-organising three side events at the 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), which will be organized from 27-30 March 2023 under the theme “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels in Asia and the Pacific” in Bangkok, at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC). The three side events which will be held on 28 and 29 March 2023 include:

Event I Event II Event III

Keynote speech delivered by

Dr. Pichamon Yeophantong,

Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

Recording will be available soon

Place: United Nations Conference Centre Theatre, Ground Floor [In Person]

Date and time: 29 March 2023, 12.15-13.30 hrs

Organisers: Fair Finance Asia, Swedwatch, UN Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia, United Nations Environment Programme

Environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive renewable energy projects are critical to reach both SDGs 7 and 9, as well as meeting the Paris Agreement targets. While investment in renewable energy is imperative, expansion of renewable energy technologies must safeguard protection of human rights and the environment to mitigate impacts on communities that are particularly vulnerable to cumulative effects of climate change. Through moderated discussion with experts and stakeholders, the event highlights regional trend, opportunities, and gaps as well as social and environmental challenges involved in renewable energy transition. It also highlights importance of different state and business actors including financial institutions and energy operators in adopting gender sensitivity, and other mechanisms to mitigate environmental damage and human rights violations in renewable energy projects. The event seeks to facilitate a dialogue on future pathways to achieve just and inclusive transition to a zero-carbon economy in the Asia Pacific Region.

Flyer - Multi-stakeholder Partnership in Facilitating Inclusive Economies and Protecting Rights of Migrant Workers

Place: United Nations Conference Centre, Meeting Room G, 1st floor [In Person]

Date and time: 28 March 2023, 16:45 -18:00 hrs (GMT+7)

Organisers: International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, UN Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for South-East Asia

Co-organisers: European Union (EU) Delegation to Thailand, Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Indonesia Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and Thailand Ministry of Labor (MOL).

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Human Rights Office in partnership with the European Union, Australian Department Foreign Affairs and Trade the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia, and Ministry of Labour of the Government of Thailand, propose to organize a side event to reflect on the human rights basis of economies in the region, with a focus on the underlying structural inequalities in temporary labour migration programmes, and the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers, especially women as well as those facing intersectional vulnerabilities on the basis of their sector of work and other factors. Discussions will address the critical role that Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs) play in delivering services to migrant workers in order to promote their rights and the importance of multi-stakeholder approaches in facilitating such services. The event will link primarily with SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals, with particular focus on Target 17.14 (Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development), and Target 17.17 (Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships).

Universal and equitable access to clean water is essential in fulfilling the right of children and future generations to survival and to a healthy environment. However, the climate and environment crisis undermine any progress made towards the achievement of SDG 6 as it exacerbates water scarcity and contaminates water sources. Despite contributing the least, children are bearing the brunt of the impacts of the triple planetary crisis on access to safe and clean water. This panel discussion led by young people will mark 100 years of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and will facilitate conversations on the impact of water scarcity and pollution on children, the role the ‘child rights’ play in achieving SDG 6, and the situation of child and youth human rights defenders face in advocating for climate and environmental action especially access to clean and safe water.

The 10th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

27-30 March 2023

Keynote speech delivered by

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Countries

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