Dignity in Work for All highlighted the regulatory momentum for human rights due diligence in the recent Roundtable organized by the Sustainable Coconut Partnership (SCP).
The Roundtable brought end-users, buyers, processors, farmer cooperatives, government and NGOs together to discuss issues faced by stakeholders including low productivity, low income, and low traceability in the upstream. A continuous improvement assurance model based on the Sustainable Coconut Charter was also launched as a tool to improve transparency and investment into the coconut industry.
DIWA has been working with SCP on a high-level human rights and living income assessment in the Philippines and Indonesia. Melissa Gibson Villanueva, Senior Policy and Communications Consultant, had the opportunity to present the methodology in detail including a discussion of rightsholders in the sector with members and partners. This was followed by breakout groups to further gather inputs from stakeholders.
Melizel Asuncion, DIWA’s Senior Director for Legal Affairs and Programs, presented the evolution of the regulatory framework related to human rights including the recent CSDDD and Forced Labour Ban in Europe. She emphasized that companies can lean into multi-stakeholder initiatives in order to tackle challenges in the upstream coconut supply chain alongside formal due diligence in their own operations and through supplier engagement. Working in partnership to improve visibility and take action on key risk drivers is more likely to ensure meaningful change and dignity in working conditions at farm level.
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DIWA delegates at the RT for Sustainable Coconut from the Philippines and Indonesia.