Jakarta, 24 July 2025 – The Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST) proudly participated in the “Building a Better Future: Indonesia’s Forum on Inclusive and Responsible Business,” held on 22–24 July 2025 in Jakarta. The forum, organized by Oxfam and key partners, convened government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and private sector actors to advance inclusive, responsible, and sustainable business practices in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Representing FIHRRST, Dr. Unang Mulkhan, ESG, Business and Human Rights Senior Specialist, joined as a panellist on Day 3 to share FIHRRST’s first-hand experience in piloting the Community-Based Human Rights Assessment (CoBHRA) approach in the seafood sector. Dr. Mulkhan shared FIHRRST’s experiences, challenges, and strategies throughout the piloting process. His presentation emphasized that the community-based approach enabled rigorous and grounded findings, as it was conducted directly by the rights-holders themselves, bringing forward sharp, realistic insights into the seafood sector’s most salient human rights issues.

In collaboration with Oxfam and local partners, FIHRRST implemented CoBHRA as a participatory human rights due diligence method that centres the voices of fishers, workers, women, and Indigenous and local communities involved in the seafood supply chain. The initiative aimed to strengthen community agency, identify human rights risks and impacts, and co-develop mitigation strategies with businesses.

“Conducting a community-based human rights assessment may be challenging, but it truly bridges policy and practice, fosters meaningful multi-stakeholder collaboration, and supports inclusive, contextual learning. Through this approach, we are able to strengthen gap assessments by translating stakeholder experiences into actionable findings, while showcasing risk rating results that empower communities and workers to highlight the most urgent human rights issues." 

– Dr. Unang Mulkhan, ESG, Business and Human Rights Senior Specialist, FIHRRST

The piloting process allowed FIHRRST and Oxfam to engage with seafood companies and civil society organizations (CSOs), in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The experience also aligned with broader global and national efforts to strengthen corporate human rights responsibilities, particularly in light of Indonesia’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

As part of the forum’s agenda, FIHRRST also participated in collaborative sessions on strengthening cross-sector partnerships and capacity building, emphasizing the role of communities in shaping responsible business conduct.

FIHRRST remains committed to advancing human rights due diligence practices that are participatory, locally grounded, and aligned with international standards, ensuring that no one is left behind.