Advancing business and human rights in practice

With the support of the UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice, Law and International Studies student You Qi Xue recently participated in the Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct and National Contact Points Program in Jakarta, Indonesia—delivered as part of the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP).

The program brought together 26 participants from across Indonesia, representing a wide range of civil society organisations and the critical work they undertake in advancing responsible business practices. It was held in partnership with the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. Delivered by expert trainer Serena Lillywhite AM, the program provided an in-depth exploration of business and human rights frameworks, with a particular focus on the OECD Guidelines and human rights due diligence, and the role of National Contact Points as a non-judicial grievance mechanism. The program also featured presentations and Q&A sessions with the representatives from the Australian and Norwegian National Contact Points, who shared their respective models and experiences hearing cases.

Reflecting on the experience, You Qi described the opportunity as both meaningful and eye-opening, offering valuable insight into Indonesia’s complex social, political and environmental landscape. As the country works toward potential OECD accession over the coming years, alongside its broader vision of becoming a developed nation by 2045, participants gained a deeper appreciation of the scale of reform required and the significance of this moment for Indonesia.

Serena Lillywhite AM and Shin Young Chung of Korean Transnational Corporations Watch (KTNC Watch) also shared experiences of engaging with the NCP complaints process, providing practical insights that were particularly relevant as Indonesia considers the design of its own NCP model as part of the OECD accession process.

“A highlight of the program was the opportunity to engage directly with diplomatic representatives,” You Qi says. “Visiting the Australian Embassy and hearing from Counsellor Elena Rose, as well as taking part in a session with Norwegian Embassy Second Secretary Truls Loke Desbans, gave me a much deeper understanding of how international partnerships and policy settings shape responsible business conduct in practice.”

Hearing from communities on the ground

As a DTP intern, You Qi supported the program from early-stage preparation through to on-the-ground delivery in Jakarta, including coordination, stakeholder correspondence, background research, and drafting the program’s final report. 

One of the most impactful aspects of the program for You Qi was hearing directly from fellow participants about the realities facing their communities. Reflections by a participant from Papua highlighted the ongoing challenges experienced by Indigenous populations, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy and reform.

For You Qi, the experience also marked a personal milestone, as it was her first time in Southeast Asia despite a strong academic focus on the region through her International Studies degree. The program offered an opportunity to connect theory with practice, while also building meaningful, lasting relationships with peers and practitioners.

“The program opened up a part of the world I had not previously had the opportunity to engage with,” You Qi says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have formed such meaningful connections and to learn from such a diverse and engaged group.”

Building global perspectives at UNSW

Professor Andrew Lynch, Dean of the Faculty of Law & Justice, said the program highlights the value of learning law in context, not at a distance.

“Understanding global law requires more than theory, it requires proximity to the people and pressures shaping it,” he said. “When students engage directly with real-world challenges, it reshapes their perspective on both the law and their role within it.”

The Faculty’s support played a key role in enabling this experience, helping to equip students with the knowledge, networks and global perspective needed to contribute to advancing business and human rights in practice.