#7 Liping Mian from Singapore

In this episode of "Vienna Calling," I am thrilled to welcome
Liping Mian, a dedicated human rights activist with extensive
experience in the intersection of business and human rights. Our
conversation dives deep into the evolution of corporate
responsibility regarding human rights since the UN Human Rights
Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights in 2011. Liping reflects on her journey from serving as
the youth representative at the International AIDS Conference to
studying human rights in Paris, and how her experiences have
shaped her understanding of this crucial topic. During our
discussion, Liping highlights the progress made in integrating
human rights into business practices. She notes that,
historically, corporate sustainability teams were small, and
dedicated professionals focusing on human rights were rare.
However, the landscape has shifted dramatically, with many
companies now embedding sustainability into their core
strategies. This includes recognizing and addressing human rights
matters in their sustainability reporting. The increasing number
of professionals focused on these issues demonstrates a growing
commitment within the corporate sector to uphold human rights
throughout their operations and supply chains. While
acknowledging these advancements, we also explore the ongoing
challenges that persist in the field. Liping emphasizes that the
guiding principles and frameworks surrounding business and human
rights are largely voluntary, leading to inconsistent
implementation across different jurisdictions. The role of
governments is critical in developing and enforcing policies that
require businesses to adhere to human rights standards. However,
challenges arise when government commitments to human rights are
overshadowed by economic priorities, resulting in businesses
often deprioritizing human rights issues. We examine the
implications of this dynamic, especially in high-risk industries
like mining, where neglecting human rights can lead to severe
violations impacting vulnerable communities. Our conversation
transitions to the European Union's Corporate Sustainability
Reporting Directive (CSRD), which was implemented to enhance
accountability through mandatory sustainability reporting. Liping
explains how the CSRD requires companies to report transparently
on their sustainability impacts, extending its reach to over
50,000 companies, including those outside the EU. This is a
pivotal step toward ensuring that businesses not only acknowledge
their human rights responsibilities but also commit to meaningful
actions. Nonetheless, Liping cautions that mandatory reporting is
just a starting point and must be coupled with robust
implementation to effect real change. We further discuss the
various stakeholders involved in advancing the agenda of human
rights in business. Governments, investors, civil society, and
end consumers each play a vital role in holding companies
accountable. Governments can create policies that incentivize
compliance or penalize violations, while investors can support
businesses that prioritize sustainability. Liping emphasizes the
importance of civil society and affected communities in
advocating for their rights and creating pressure on corporations
to act responsibly. Additionally, she highlights the unique power
of end consumers in driving demand for ethically produced goods
and advocating for corporate accountability. As we wrap up our
enlightening conversation, we touch on the newly adopted
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive by the EU and
the forthcoming global discussions in Geneva concerning a
comprehensive international framework for business and human
rights. Both Liping and I express optimism about the potential
for these initiatives to truly transform how businesses operate
concerning human rights, and we commit to staying engaged in this
ongoing dialogue. This episode encapsulates a crucial discourse
on the intersection of business, rights, and the continuous
efforts needed to ensure that human dignity is respected in every
corner of the corporate landscape. 


00:00:10 Introduction to Business and Human Rights 
00:01:09 Business and Human Rights Trends 
00:06:22 The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Directive 
00:09:22 The Role of Stakeholders in Accountability 
00:12:30 New Developments in EU Regulations