PALMOILMAGAZINE, PONTIANAK – Indonesia continues to strengthen its commitment to human rights (HAM) principles in business practices. As a signatory to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs BHR), the country is pushing for the adoption of these principles at the local level—including in strategic sectors like palm oil plantations.
In a concrete move to advance this agenda, Teraju Indonesia recently held a workshop titled “Collaborative Efforts to Improve the Palm Oil Sector through the Implementation of Business and Human Rights Standards (SNP) and the National Strategy in West Kalimantan.” The event, held last Monday, brought together key stakeholders including local government officials, law enforcement representatives, palm oil companies, GAPKI West Kalimantan, and plantation labor unions.
Speaking at the event, academic expert Dr. Budimansyah stressed the need for synergy between government and business actors. “Local governments have a duty to formulate policies that support the implementation of human rights principles in business activities. This can take the form of regional regulations at the provincial or district/city levels,” he stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Komnas HAM (June 2, 2025).
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Meanwhile, Nelly Yusnita, Head of the West Kalimantan Secretariat of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), underlined the importance of conducting Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) by corporations. “Companies must take proactive steps to prevent potential human rights violations—even in situations that may appear beyond their control. Learning from past failures is also critical to avoiding future harm,” she explained.
The workshop also introduced participants to the PRISMA application—a government-developed self-assessment tool designed to help companies evaluate their compliance with human rights principles. The app includes 13 indicators that companies must complete, which are then verified and assessed for compliance levels.
“This tool brings wide-reaching benefits—not just for companies, but also for communities. It boosts employee morale, enhances productivity, increases consumer trust, and improves attractiveness to investors,” Nelly added.
Moderated by Agus Sutomo, the discussion featured vibrant exchanges, with participants sharing best practices in implementing human rights standards within the palm oil sector. The event concluded with a joint action plan to improve HRDD mechanisms in West Kalimantan—aiming to set a national example for other regions.
Through close collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society, West Kalimantan is expected to emerge as a pioneer in advancing human rights standards in key industries—especially in fostering sustainability and social justice within the palm oil sector. (P2)
