Background
Scientists' predictions that this year will be the coolest on record after the world groaned under extreme weather conditions suggest that humanity has no more time to delay the transition to a decarbonized circular economy. However, maintaining the current system of mass production and consumption, while only changing the energy sources to power it, will inevitably entail another round of large-scale resource exploitation and human rights abuses. Supply chain risks in industries, categorized as the so-called "green economy", are a testament to this.
As a result, there is a global trend introducing laws on due diligence that require companies to identify, prevent, and remediate human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains. France, Germany, and Norway have already enacted legislation, and a directive is being developed at the EU level that will apply across the EU. Japan is also discussing the enactment of such laws at the government level.
On September 1, South Korea became the first country in Asia to introduce such a law, and as there has been no domestic legislation to address human rights abuses and environmental destruction in supply chains, this is a step forward in strengthening the responsibility of companies to respect human rights and providing legal remedies to victims.
The bill is the result of close cooperation with the National Assembly by KTNC Watch, which has been dealing with supply chain issues of Korean companies operating overseas for many years. We will be hosting an online seminar to review the current status of the institutionalization of human rights due diligence in Korea and to introduce the highlights of the bill and our future plans.
Outline
Title: Webinar on introducing an Asia-first Proposed Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in Korea
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 14:00 pm - 15:30 pm KST(approx, 90 mins)
Organizer: KTNC Watch
Webinar Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7b3TgnBBQqWobwIDrK2Opg
Agenda (95 mins)
| *Moderator: HyunPhil Na (Director, KTNC Watch / KHIS) | |
| Time | Subject |
| 14:00-14:10 | Welcome and Introduction- DongHyun Kim(Lawyer, KTNC Watch / KLPH) |
| 14:10-15:10 | Presentation 1A case of human rights and environmental violations in the supply chain of a Korean company: Focusing on the case of Samsung's Vietnam factory- Activist, SHAPS |
| Presentation 2Introduction to the Proposed Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence I- YuJung Shin(Lawyer, KTNC Watch / JIHYANG LAW ) | |
| Presentation 3Introduction to the Proposed Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence II: Doona Kim(Lawyer, KTNC Watch / KLPH) | |
| Presentation 4Introduction to the Proposed Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence III : YoungAh Park(Lawyer, KTNC Watch / GongGam) | |
| 15:10-15:30 | Q&A |