Reports
Corporate Accountability for Gender-Based Human Rights Violations in South and East Asia: The Role of International Standards and Local Compliance
- Asia Team
- 14 March 2025
Gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination within corporate supply chains and workplaces remain a critical and under-addressed human rights issue in South and East Asia. From garment factories in Bangladesh to electronics assembly lines in Malaysia and agricultural plantations in the Philippines, women and gender minorities frequently experience harassment, unsafe working conditions, unequal pay, and restricted access to justice. Multinational corporations (MNCs), local businesses, and subcontractors often operate in environments where legal protections for women are weak, poorly enforced, or undermined by corrupt and patriarchal systems. In many cases, economic dependency, fear of retaliation, and the absence of grievance mechanisms prevent victims from reporting abuse.
While states bear the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, corporations have increasingly been scrutinised for their role in perpetuating or failing to prevent violations within their business operations. The adoption of international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) has set clear expectations for corporate actors to respect human rights, including those related to gender. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these standards hinges on local implementation, corporate willpower, and meaningful accountability mechanisms.
This report explores the intersection between corporate conduct and gender-based human rights violations in South and East Asia. It evaluates the effectiveness of international human rights standards, assesses regional legal frameworks and compliance, and recommends measures to improve corporate accountability and survivor protection.
While states bear the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, corporations have increasingly been scrutinised for their role in perpetuating or failing to prevent violations within their business operations. The adoption of international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) has set clear expectations for corporate actors to respect human rights, including those related to gender. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these standards hinges on local implementation, corporate willpower, and meaningful accountability mechanisms.
This report explores the intersection between corporate conduct and gender-based human rights violations in South and East Asia. It evaluates the effectiveness of international human rights standards, assesses regional legal frameworks and compliance, and recommends measures to improve corporate accountability and survivor protection.
✨ AI summary
Gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination within corporate supply chains and workplaces remain a critical and under-addressed human rights issue in South and East Asia. From garment factories in Bangladesh to electronics assembly lines in Malaysia and agricultural plantations in the Philippines, women and gender minorities frequently experience harassment, unsafe working conditions, unequal pay, and restricted access to justice. Multinational corporations (MNCs), local businesses, and subcontractors often operate in environments where legal protections for women are weak, poorly enforced, or undermined by corrupt and patriarchal systems. In many cases, economic dependency, fear of retaliation, and the absence of grievance mechanisms prevent victims from reporting abuse.
While states bear the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, corporations have increasingly been scrutinised for their role in perpetuating or failing to prevent violations within their business operations. The adoption of international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) has set clear expectations for corporate actors to respect human rights, including those related to gender. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these standards hinges on local implementation, corporate willpower, and meaningful accountability mechanisms.
This report explores the intersection between corporate conduct and gender-based human rights violations in South and East Asia. It evaluates the effectiveness of international human rights standards, assesses regional legal frameworks and compliance, and recommends measures to improve corporate accountability and survivor protection.
While states bear the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, corporations have increasingly been scrutinised for their role in perpetuating or failing to prevent violations within their business operations. The adoption of international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) has set clear expectations for corporate actors to respect human rights, including those related to gender. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these standards hinges on local implementation, corporate willpower, and meaningful accountability mechanisms.
This report explores the intersection between corporate conduct and gender-based human rights violations in South and East Asia. It evaluates the effectiveness of international human rights standards, assesses regional legal frameworks and compliance, and recommends measures to improve corporate accountability and survivor protection.
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