AmberBon

Edmund Bon Tai Soon Reappointed to AICHR: Championing Human Rights and Business Compliance in Southeast Asia

We are delighted to extend our congratulations to Mr. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, Head of Chamber (Civil) of AmberBon, Advocates, on his appointment by the Government of Malaysia as the representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for the 2024-2026 term. He previously held this prestigious position from 2016 to 2018. This re-appointment truly reflects his unwavering commitment to human rights advocacy.

FNF and AmerBon

Since 2021, Edmund has been collaborating closely with FNF to advance the Business and Human Rights agenda in Southeast Asia. A milestone of this partnership was the publication of the "GuideKit for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on Human Rights Compliance Regarding the Environment and Labor”. The GuideKit has garnered substantial interest from stakeholders across the region, including government officials, civil society organizations, and businesses.

Following the publication of the GuideKit, Edmund and his colleagues have conducted numerous workshops for stakeholders, particularly SMEs. These initiatives aim to inspire businesses to monitor their human rights practices. The workshops also provide skills training, including the introduction of human rights due diligence and effective grievance mechanisms. This helps businesses to address and resolve human rights issues caused by their operations promptly and fairly.

Beyond the area of Business and Human Rights, FNF has also joined forces with Edmund in efforts to strengthen regional human rights mechanisms in ASEAN. He has frequently conceptualized and participated as a resource person in activities organized by FNF’s long-term partner, the Regional Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism (RWG). Notably, Edmund co-authored FNF’s policy paper on the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The paper also discusses AICHR's role in promoting human rights and highlights its limitations due to a lack of investigative authority and accountability measures.

FNF is proud to have had the privilege of collaborating with Edmund. We are confident that he will once again bring his expertise and passion to AICHR, working to improve the human rights situation in the region. Edmund, we wish you all the best during your term.