Sawasdee ka 👋 from Chiang Mai 🇹🇭
The last time I was here, I was interviewing human rights defenders and political refugees from Myanmar.
Wow.
And here I am now, years later, trying to make the most of the twins’ naps to complete our EU CSDDD submission to the European Commission. 👶👶💻
Completing this submission has reminded me A LOT of how I felt writing my law school papers in law school.
Phase 1: Excitement 🤓. I LOVE this topic. I chose it, after all. This is going to be so fun.
Phase 2: Hmm. This is not quite as fun as I imagined.
Phase 3: Oh my gosh, when is this over? 😬
Suffice to say: I did not particularly enjoy completing this submission.
I found a number of the questions too leading, and the space limits very restrictive given the complexity of what we were being asked.
I also struggled with the repeated emphasis on what is “cost-effective.”
Of course companies are cost-conscious. But I’ve worked with hundreds of companies over the years, and I have never seen cost as the sole decision-making factor on human rights due diligence. Effectiveness, efficiency and feasibility - yes - which includes costs but not only.
Anyway. Do you know what I did enjoy? Reading friends’ and colleagues’ submissions after I had finished ours. 😂
“Ohhhh, such a good point! I need to find a way to integrate that into ours!”
Or: “Great point, but 500 characters… I need to keep mine - I can’t weave it in.”
So, friends and colleagues: please do submit. The deadline is 14 August.
The closer we get to the deadline, the more you can borrow from others.
Here is our submission!
And here is Shift’s!
Feel free to use as much or as little as is helpful from these.
If this can save you time and help you with the character limits, I would go for it. But of course, you can adapt as you see fit based on your experience.
And if there are other organisations whose perspectives you value, email them. I’m sure they will be happy to share what they have submitted.
So happy phase 3 is over 😅 and I’ll soon be able to be on holiday. ☀️
I hope you are too.
We’ll be back in your Inbox in September and until then:
Savour the break. Enjoy the time, look after yourself, and have fun.
Anna 💫
