10th UN Forum on business and human rights

Session organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights

A RECORDING OF THIS SESSION IS AVAILABLE HERE.

Brief description of the session:
As the UNGPs turned 10 in June 2021, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights took stock of the first decade of implementation. The stocktaking highlighted 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, but that considerable gaps remain to effectively prevent and remedy harm caused by business, particularly for those in the most vulnerable situations. Meaningful progress over the next 10 years will depend on how these gaps are addressed.

This session provides an opportunity for WEOG States to share their own commitments and plans for scaling-up implementation and effectiveness of the UNGPs in the next decade in the region.
This Forum session is part of the Forum track on trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in the context of each region of the world. In the context of the Working Group’s project ‘Business and human rights: towards a decade of global implementation' (also known as “UNGPs 10+ / Next Decade BHR”), it provides an opportunity for WEOG States to share their own achievements, commitments, innovations, policies and plans. It also offers a chance for WEOG States to respond to the recommendations made by the Working Group as part of the UNGPs 10+ project.

Participants will discuss legal and policy innovations and practices on which progress can be built across the region for strengthening action to address business and human rights issues and promote responsible business conduct in the next decade.

The session will involve presentations by governments that are moving ahead with regulatory and policy innovations including promoting better human rights due diligence, effectively developing, revising and implementing national action plans on business and human rights and strengthening access to effective remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuses. The presentations will be complemented by perspectives from other relevant stakeholders in a spirit of constructive dialogue.

Objectives of the session:

• Share lessons learned from recent government efforts to drive greater policy coherence on business and human rights issues, and reach a significant scale in the implementation by business enterprises of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue around lessons learned and way forward, including on how to strengthen a race to the top among WEOG States.
• Reflect on the ways to implement within the region the recommendations made by the Working Group through its UNGPs 10+ project.

Background documents and submissions:

• European Parliament resolution of 10 March 2021 with recommendations to the Commission on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability (2020/2129(INL))
• Hearing the human: Ensuring due diligence legislation effectively amplifies the voices of those affected by irresponsible business
• Can nature get it right?: Discussion on rights to nature – European Parliament study
• European Parliament press release, 20 May 2021 “Environmental liability rules need revamping”
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights report, 6 October 2021 “Business and human rights – access to remedy”
• Sustainable Corporate Governance – NGO Briefing
• ISDS reform and Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform