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Tag: human rights

  • CAPHRA Releases Policy Paper on Public Health Sovereignty

    CAPHRA Releases Policy Paper on Public Health Sovereignty

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Health Rights Advocates (CAPHRA) released a new position paper over the weekend emphasizing that governments in the Asia Pacific region do not have to choose between national sovereignty and human rights when shaping public health policy. The paper argues that strong domestic institutions allow countries to set policy goals, regulate markets, allocate resources, and respond to local realities while fulfilling human rights obligations.

    The paper warns against external influence that weakens national systems, calls for clear accountability, robust data governance, and locally owned capacity building, and highlights that regional cooperation should enhance — but not replace — domestic decision-making. The paper also proposes practical measures, including a Funding Independence Rule and stricter terms for donor engagement, to strengthen resilient, transparent, and nationally controlled public health systems.

  • PMI Publishes First Human Rights Report

    PMI Publishes First Human Rights Report

    Image: PMI

    Philip Morris International released its first Human Rights Report, detailing the company’s strategy to promote, respect and protect human rights and its progress to date in implementing its Human Rights Commitment.

    PMI’s Human Rights Commitment outlines the foundational principles that need to be respected throughout the operations and value chain by both PMI and its business partners. In 2022, PMI updated its commitment with the company’s latest saliency mapping, sustainability materiality assessment, ongoing due diligence activities and the evolution of the company’s sustainability strategy.

    “Establishing a strong foundation and integrating mechanisms into our organization that promote, respect and protect human rights are an essential part of our approach to business,” said Jacek Olczak, CEO, in a statement. “While this can be challenging given the breadth of our operations and the scope and complexity of the issues involved, we believe human rights are an absolute and universal requirement that we are committed to upholding.”

    In its Human Rights Report, PMI shares its best practices, lessons learned, main challenges and future actions. It also features country-based case studies and external recognition—such as the inclusion of PMI’s Agricultural Labor Practices in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s latest Human Rights Progress Report. PMI actively participates in the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality’s efforts and contributed to the latest report on Tackling Inequality: An Agenda for Business Action.

    In addition, PMI’s Human Rights Report includes progress toward achieving its 2025 goal to conduct 10 human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) in the highest risk countries. To date, PMI has completed seven HRIAs, including two in 2022 in Brazil and Malaysia.

    PMI’s approach to human rights is grounded in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

    “Human rights are inherent to the dignity of human life and a prerequisite for society to prosper,” said Jennifer Motles, chief sustainability officer. “As a global company, we work to uphold human rights both within our organization and across our value chain. We will continue to work with different parts of society in a multi-stakeholder approach to achieve sustainable solutions that comprehensively address systemic human rights issues.”