Session organized by OHCHR Business and Human Rights Unit
A RECORDING OF THIS SESSION IS AVAILABLE HERE. Brief description of the session:
The UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) were conceived as a tool for changing realities on the ground, guiding public policy and corporate actions towards more sustainable business models ---with human rights at the core. States, business enterprises and others actors, including the UN, are playing a critical role in translating the UNGP framework into the policies and practices at country and regional levels.
Over the last decade, various parts of the UN have worked through multiple types of engagement and projects to advance corporate accountability for human rights at the country and regional levels. Together with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, other UN entities, such as the ILO, UNDP, or UNICEF, as well as the OECD, have joined forces and expanded their work in this area. Specific programmes, such as the joint project Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and the Caribbean (RBCLAC) or Business and Human Rights-Asia have helped scale up the efforts at the regional level.
Over the last decade, various parts of the UN have worked through multiple types of engagement and projects to advance corporate accountability for human rights at the country and regional levels. Together with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, other UN entities, such as the ILO, UNDP, or UNICEF, as well as the OECD, have joined forces and expanded their work in this area. Specific programmes, such as the joint project
Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and the Caribbean (RBCLAC) or
Business and Human Rights-Asia have helped scale up the efforts at the regional level.
Looking back at the past decade, we see that the UNGPs have led to significant progress by providing a common framework for all stakeholders in managing business-related human rights risks and impacts. Yet, more efforts are needed for greater uptake and coherent implementation with respect to ensuring better protection and prevention of adverse human rights impacts. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the UNGPs, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights articulated a
“Roadmap for the Next Decade” calling to raise ambition and increase the pace of implementation, to improve coherence and create greater impact. The Roadmap for the Next Decade sets out forward-looking recommendations, key goals and actions and supporting actions to be taken by States and businesses as well as other key stakeholders for the road ahead.
This session offers an opportunity to look at the role the UN in realizing UNGPs implementation and ensuring that tangible results are achieved in the coming years, for affected individuals and communities, and for contributing to a socially sustainable globalization.
Objectives of the session:
- Reflect on the progress achieved after a decade of UNGP implementation based on the experience of UN practitioners (what has worked and why)?
- Assess the unique role that the UN and other international actors can play to advance the business and human rights agenda on the ground.
- Share views on actions needed to scale up progress and greater impact at country and regional levels.
