A/HRC/41/21 Furthermore, indigenous peoples in seven provinces participated in the communal land titling process with various ministries. As a result, six indigenous communities in Koh Kong, Kratie and Mondulkiri Provinces obtained their indigenous peoples’ identity registration (the first step in the communal land titling process). One community in Mondulkiri Province obtained its registration as a legal entity (the second step in the process), and an indigenous community in Battambang Province was able to advance in the demarcation of its lands. 51. Regarding the protection of the right to land in Colombia, although 122 requests for the protection of territories were presented by indigenous and Afrodescendent authorities in 2017, most of these were not processed. The limited realization of the rights to territorial integrity and participation affected the exercise of the autonomy and self-determination of ethnic peoples, thereby increasing their vulnerability. Despite the signature of the peace agreements between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) in 2016, new displacements and restrictions to the effective enjoyment of the right to land and territory were generated as a result of disputes over land by new actors involved in drug trafficking in areas that had previously been controlled by the FARC-EP guerrillas. 52. In Germany, examples of how Sustainable Development Goals implementation has inspired progress on human rights include the adoption in May 2017 of a new law on equal pay for equal work. This law reform was a direct consequence of the benchmark included in Goal 5. Similarly, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) was adopted as a consequence of the national review process on implementation of the Goals, while the German action plan on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights was inspired by Goal 8.18 Business and human rights 53. In the 2030 Agenda, Member States committed to “foster a dynamic and wellfunctioning business sector, while protecting labour rights and environmental and health standards in accordance with relevant international standards and agreements and other ongoing initiatives in this regard, such as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” as well as human rights treaties.19 54. Businesses can help achieve all Sustainable Development Goals if they comply with human rights. When respect for human rights becomes firmly recognized as the starting point for all companies, they have the potential to contribute to advancing social development, and to the realization of the 2030 Agenda. They can create decent employment, drive essential investment technologies and innovation, and contribute to domestic revenues available for development. 55. In Thailand, the Government adopted the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which is in line with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The National Legislative Assembly also amended the Criminal Code, allowing judges to dismiss cases filed by companies against communities affected by their activities. In the first year of the Sustainable Development Goals, Thailand nationalized the Goals in its country strategy for the next 20 years (in the national economic and social development plan). Then Thailand “localized” them, when its Cabinet designated the governor of each province to be a Sustainable Development Goals focal point responsible for receiving input from civil society, the private sector and academia.20 56. In Africa, the Government of Kenya is leading a steering committee to develop an action plan and policy on human rights and business. In Madagascar, a tripartite charter was developed with representatives of civil society, the Government and mining companies to 18 19 20 “Human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals: pursuing synergies”, Danish Institute for Human Rights, p. 11. 2030 Agenda, para. 67. A/HRC/40/34, para. 9. 11