On Human Rights day, 10 December, the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST), supported by Moores Rowland Indonesia, the Embassy of Belgium, and in partnership with the Indonesia National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM RI), launched their fifth annual comprehensive evaluation report on the sustainability reports of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), in Jakarta.
The event featured remarks from Belgium Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Frank Felix, from Mr. Marzuki Darusman, the founder of FIHRRST and former attorney general of Indonesia, and Ms. Risa E. Rustam, the director of finance and human resources at the IDX.
Speaking to the distinguished guests and attendees from several government agencies and prominent corporations, Mr. Darusman said, “Through their sustainability reports, companies demonstrate their transparency regarding various sustainability issues, risks and opportunities that may influence their long-term performance. Corporate sustainability reports serve as a tool for regulatory compliance and as a way to the describe the impact of their operations. FIHRRST’s sustainability report study provides a comprehensive overview of how well, or not, companies in Indonesia conduct responsible business, particularly in fulfilling human rights”.
After four panel discussions regarding the Role of Human Rights Due Diligence in Sustainability Reporting; the Importance of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) for Companies in Indonesia; ESG and Human Rights, and Best Practices in Sustainability Reporting, the event concluded with an award ceremony honouring those companies with outstanding sustainability reports for 2023 including 19 earning FIHRRST’s A+ rating, and 22 earning an A. The awards were presented by Mr. Ali Rahmadi, FIHRRST’s operations director, along with Mr. Baudouin Coomans and Ms. Tan Mei Nie, both partners at Moores Rowland, highlighting a joint commitment to promoting and celebrating excellence in sustainable business practices.
As a member of the business community, Moores Rowland is an active participant in fostering relationships between government, business, and civil society to protect, respect, and fulfil human rights in Indonesia, and hopes that more companies will follow suit.
Recognising not only their own impact on society, but also that of other companies to either help advance society or set it back, Moores Rowland believes in a fundamental and moral obligation to contribute to a just, inclusive, and sustainable environment. By respecting human rights and engaging in responsible business conduct, the company not only enhances its productivity and profitability but also works to create a society in which future generations can thrive.
Since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Moores Rowland has maintained that companies need to respect human rights in their activities. To further this idea, the company’s CEO, James Kallman, partnered with Mr. Marzuki Darusman, Mr. Makarim Wibisono, Mr. Marzuki Usman, and other human rights experts to establish FIHRRST, as an independent non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting the protection, respect, and fulfilment of human rights.
In addition, Moores Rowland conducts sustainability reporting and assurance, encouraging clients to integrate human rights principles into their business operations. Knowing that respect for human rights starts at home, Moores Rowland Indonesia has a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that allows the MRI family to grow and succeed.
