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Fair Finance Asia’s Joint Sessions on Transition Minerals, Digital Rights, and Inequality at the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum

September 8, 2025
Fair Finance Asia’s Joint Sessions on Transition Minerals, Digital Rights, and Inequality at the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum

From September 16-19, Fair Finance Asia (FFA) will engage at the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum (UNRBHR) 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “Anchoring Progress and Strengthening Regional Leadership on Human Rights through Crisis.” FFA will jointly co-organize three sessions on transition minerals, digital rights, and inequality. 

THE COST OF ASIA’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND PATHWAYS FOR STRONGER ACCOUNTABILITY AND RIGHTS-BASED APPROACHES

On September 16, FFA, with Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Oxfam in Asia (OiA), Digital Rights Nepal (DRN), and Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) will conduct a session to highlight the human and environmental costs of Asia’s digital transformation and pathways for different actors, governments, platforms, MDBs/financiers, communities, and civil society, to advance rights-based approaches, strengthen accountability, and expand civic space in the region. 

Objectives: 

  • Amplify regional awareness on key human and environmental risks and impacts of Asia’s digital transformation agenda through sub-regional case studies. 
  • Build regional solidarity and momentum regarding the urgency of holding digital and social media platforms, governments, MDBs/financiers, and other actors accountable for addressing the costs of Asia’s digital transformation. 
  • Facilitate a multi-stakeholder discussion on regional collaborative strategies and national and regional policy frameworks, including business and human rights standards, platform governance, and financial sector due diligence that can address the risks and impacts of Asia’s digital transformation. 

Speakers: 

  • Dulanjaya Mahagamage, Researcher and Digital Rights Advocate of Hashtag Generation 
  • Kyle Cruz, Influencing and Campaigning Manager of FFA 
  • Lorenzo Urbinati, Rights in Digital Space and Data Justice, Strategic Advisor of Oxfam International, Asia 
  • Santosh Sigdel, Co-Founder/Executive Director of DRN 
  • Seerat Khan, Research and Grants Lead of DRF 
  • Prarthana Rao, Programme Manager of FORUM-ASIA (moderator) 

Join the session online: https://undp.zoom.us/j/86884867612 

Learn more about the session here. 

BEYOND EXTRACTION, TOWARDS SELF-DETERMINATION: INDIGENOUS PATHWAYS TO A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION

On September 17, FFA, with Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (REP), International Zero Tolerance Initiative Asia, Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP), Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders Network (IPHRD), and the Association of Defenders of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago will conduct a panel discussion to examine the human rights implications of the energy transition, and spotlight pathways for shared prosperity. 

Objectives: 

  • Expose human rights and environmental impacts of large-scale renewable energy projects and transition mineral extraction. 
  • Highlight Indigenous Peoples-led renewable energy initiatives as viable models for an equitable energy transition. 
  • Foster multi-stakeholder dialogue on aligning energy transition policies with human rights, sustainability, and Indigenous leadership. 

Speakers: 

  • Bernadette Victorio, Program Lead of FFA 
  • Joan Carling, Executive Director of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights International (IPRI) 
  • Pochoy Labog, Southeast Asia Program Manager of BHRRC 
  • Pranisha Shakya, Founder and Director of Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) 
  • Richard Gadit, Advocacy Coordinator of REP 
  • Surti Handayanni, Lawyer of Perhimpunan Pembela Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (PPMAN) 
  • Robeliza Halip, Executive Director of REP (moderator) 

Join the session online: https://undp.zoom.us/j/88531972701

Learn more about the session here. 

SYSTEMIC RISKS, SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS: FROM INEQUALITY TO REGENERATIVE BUSINESS MODELS

On September 19, FFA, with Oxfam in Asia, the Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD), Sal Forest Co. Ltd, and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) will conduct a multi-stakeholder workshop to explore systemic risks and apply transformative solutions to real-world cases through interactive learning and collaborative problem-solving.  

Objectives: 

  • Deepen participants’ understanding of the systemic risks embedded in current business, investment, and financing models, and why incremental “sustainable” or “inclusive” approaches are insufficient. 
  • Introduce practical tools, models, and governance approaches—such as TISFD integration, steward ownership, and fair value distribution—that can drive systemic change. 
  • Equip participants with the skills and frameworks to apply regenerative and distributive models to real-world business or investment scenarios, fostering bold and actionable strategies. 

Speakers 

  • Namit Agarwal, TISFD 
  • Monika Nowaczyk, Cambodia Knits 
  • Rapatsa Trirath, Oxfam in Asia   
  • Sarinee Achavanuntakul, Sal Forest Co. Ltd  
  • Windy Massabni, Oxfam Novib (moderator) 

Learn more about the session here. 

Join the session online: https://undp.zoom.us/j/89394334660