CHAPTER 4 - REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP The Commission’s Responses 1. The Commission released a press statement on its stand on the issue, urging the Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the claims, using the PSG report as a reference during the process. 2. Additionally, the Commission established the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Committee to ensure that issues affecting them are better addressed. 3. At the time of writing, the Commission is preparing to hold a National Inquiry into the land rights of IPs in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.4 4. BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS The role of corporations in the area of human rights is increasingly coming under scrutiny by international society, as their activities have a considerable impact on the lives and human rights of people. For instance, activities by forestry-based plantations may have a major impact on the rights of IPs residing in affected areas, as well as on the environment. While the Government bears the primary obligation to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights, companies, as organs of society, also have a duty to promote and secure the rights detailed by the UDHR.5 Hence, the ECOSOCWG plans to organise a workshop themed ‘Business and Human Rights’ to raise awareness in various sectors; to provide an opportunity to groups including the Government, NGOs, private companies and Government-linked Companies (GLCs) to state their perspective of the issues involved; to highlight the importance of a national policy or guideline on business and human rights; and to come up with recommendations for the Government toward a guideline or policy to be observed by the business sector. 4 See Chapter 7 for the Report of the National Inquiry Committee 5 See the United Nations Economic and Social Council Document on ‘Economic, Social And Cultural Rights. Norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights’. Available at http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-un-norms. pdf 71