Country Issues Nepal (cont.) • Violations of human rights by business noted in the areas of migrant work, brick kiln operations, corporal punishment in schools, undue fee structures in private schools, adulteration in commodities, workers’ safety, hygiene and other rights in industries, child labor, environmental hazards, medical negligence, and undue charges for treatment, etc. Philippines • Policies and guidelines in the Philippines encourage direct negotiations between rights holders and investors; in most cases, however, these transactions are not always transparent. • Ambiguous land use policies and processes in place have resulted to overlapping jurisdictions among agencies, conflicting land claims, and consequent land rights abuses. • The Philippines has been classified as the second deadliest country for land and environmental rights defenders in 2017. • Continuing displacement and oppression of IPs, including manipulation of free, prior, and informed consent process. Efforts undertaken to mainstream UNGP BHR The following table summarizes government, CSO and private sector initiatives to advance the UNGP BHR in the six countries. For government, the initiatives consist of those undertaken by the independent human rights body (NHRI) or the human rights executive instrumentality (NHRC). The list below is not exhaustive, but based on information gathered by the CSO partners that conducted the studies. Table 2: Efforts to mainstream UNGP BHR Country 22 NHRIs/NHRCs CSOs Bangladesh • NHRC has not institutionalized land rights as human rights. However, during the first meeting on “Land Rights as Human Rights” in July 2018, the NHRC Chairperson acknowledged the issue very positively and expressed the intention of NHRC to work together with CSOs. • CSOs convened three consultation workshops with NHRIs to promote the UNGP BHR. An advocacy plan to formulate the National Action Plan was created during these workshops. Cambodia • State engaged CSOs on a discussion regarding the possible establishment of an NHRI (by National Assembly, Senate, Council of Ministers). • CSOs have already commenced discussions with the Cambodia Human Rights Committee on the establishment of an NHRI. • CSO representatives initiated the establishment of a Working Group to promote the establishment of an NHRI. • CSOs have already prepared a draft law for the establishment of NHRI, and it is now in the hands of government for further input and action. • CSOs conducted awareness-raising activities on the UNGP BHR with relevant stakeholders. Upholding Land Rights amidst the Land Rush