On 7 October 2021, UNDP and FIHRRST held a kick-off meeting to discuss the implementation of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) and Covid-19: A Rapid Self-Assessment for Business (C19 RSAB) by companies in Indonesia. Mr Siprianus Bate Soro, the Assistant Resident Representative/Head of Democratic Governance and Poverty Reduction Unit for UNDP Indonesia, gave the opening remarks. He highlighted the progress made in Indonesia regarding the implementation of business and human rights. Mr. Soro also discussed the need for companies to conduct rapid self-assessment on human rights risks and impacts during the pandemic.
 
Mr. Marzuki Darusman, the Chair of FIHRRST, stated that companies that carry out C19 RSAB would be able to identify the risks and impacts of their operations during the pandemic. In addition, the assessment would prepare companies to carry out full-fledged HRDD.
 
Following Mr. Soro and Darusman’s remarks, Mr Sean Lees, the Business and Human Rights Specialist of UNDP B+HR Asia, stated that HRDD is needed for future-proofing business in Indonesia. By conducting the C19 RSAB, companies are likely to become more resilient and more valuable in Indonesia.
 
Next, Ms. Sagita Adesywi, Business and Human Rights Specialist of B+HR Asia introduced the C19 RSAB and Human Rights Self-Assessment (HRSA) Training Tool that UNDP has developed.
 
Lastly, Mr. Bahtiar Manurung, Operations Director of FIHRRST, explained the benefits of joining the C19 RSAB programme. He also described the procedures of assistance given to companies participating in the programme.
 
During the Q&A session, Mr. Mahmud Samuri from PT BUMI Resources Tbk. stated that the C19 RSAB programme would help BUMI, an extractive company, demonstrate its efforts to respect human rights. He expressed his company’s commitment to participate in the programme.
 
Closing the event, Mr. Soro announced that the C19 RSAB report would be launched on 10 December 2021.