Manushya Foundation submitted a report titled “Deprived of their Rights and their Lands: Indigenous Peoples facing Corporate Abuses in Laos and Thailand”, in response to a call for input on Indigenous Peoples’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the context of business activities to inform the report of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights to the Human Rights Council at its 62nd session in June 2026.

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The submission exposes the lived realities of Indigenous communities affected by mining, hydropower, tourism, and large-scale agricultural expansion. Drawing on the experiences of Indigenous Peoples and partner communities we serve, it highlights systemic gaps in legal protection, barriers to remedy, and the urgent need for mandatory human rights due diligence frameworks that respect Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

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The submission also provides targeted recommendations to Laos and Thailand, calling for recognition of Indigenous Peoples and their rights, alignment of domestic laws with international human rights standards, meaningful participation in decision-making processes, and effective safeguards to prevent corporate abuse.