Around 1,500 people from more than 100 countries registered to attend the second United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva from 2 to 4 December 2013. Among the participants were people who have been adversely affected by business, many of them from indigenous communities, and business representatives from major multinational corporations, as well as representatives of Governments, national human rights institutions, international and regional organizations, civil society and other stakeholders.

The Forum was established by the Human Rights Council and is under the guidance of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. The Forum provides a global platform for the promotion and implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These Principles, unanimously endorsed in 2011 by the Council, are the first globally accepted standards on the responsibilities of States and businesses for preventing and addressing business-related human rights abuse.

The programme is available here. Chairperson of the second annual Forum was Mr. Makarim Wibisono.

Learn more about the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

 

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Participation and preparation

Click here for the Rules of Procedure - E, F, S

For preliminary list of registered participants, click here

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 17/4, the objective of the Forum is to discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework, available in the six official languages of the United Nations, and to promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights.

Participants from all relevant stakeholder groups, sectors and disciplines are encouraged to attend the Forum and share perspectives and information about experiences, challenges, practices, tools and initiatives for advancing the business and human rights agenda and the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 17/4, paragraph 13, participation in the Forum is open to States, United Nations mechanisms and entities, intergovernmental organizations and regional organizations and mechanisms national human rights institutions, business enterprises and associations, labour unions, academics and experts, representatives of indigenous peoples and non-governmental organizations.

Prior to the Forum, the Secretariat issued a non-exhaustive and evolving list of different tools and guidance documents that may be relevant to Forum participants. 

Introductory presentation on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights available in English, French and Spanish  - E - F- S

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Side events

• Single stakeholder pre-Forum sessions, 2 December
  In response to requests from participants of the 2012 Forum, the second Forum on Business and Human Rights provided space for self-organized, single stakeholder, pre-Forum sessions to enable participants to share perspectives and lessons learned on implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. There were 5 simultaneous sessions dedicated to the following groups: Governments, business, civil society organisations, national human rights institutions, and indigenous peoples.

  • States

    Pre-Forum session for States, 2 December
    - Concept note and agenda
    - Informal discussion paper from the Working Group on Business and Human Rights - English | French

  • Civil Society

    Single stakeholder pre-Forum sessions, 2 December, 3-6 pm. - Civil Society

    - Civil Society Dialogue
    E | S

    Civil society statement to the opening plenary

    - Mariëtte van Huijstee, SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

  • Business

    Single stakeholder pre-Forum sessions, 2 December, 3-6 pm. - Business

    Business Stakeholder Meeting

    At the invitation of the UN Working Group on business and human rights, the UN Global Compact, the International Organisation of Employers, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, and Business for Social Responsibility are convening a Business Stakeholder Meeting on the afternoon before the Forum to facilitate peer exchanges and learning. The Business Stakeholder Meeting will be interactive, providing the opportunity for participants to share and discuss the key challenges and opportunities they are encountering in seeking to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The results of the 2013 Corporate Questionnaire on business and human rights will also be shared during the meeting. Business representatives are invited to register for the Business Stakeholder Meeting by emailing humanrights@ioe-emp.org.

    - Final biographies of Chair and Thematic Chairs

    - Final Public Agenda II

    - Summary report prepared by UN Global Compact, International Organisation of Employers, International Chamber of Commerce, Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, and Business for Social Responsibility

  • Indigenous Peoples

    Single stakeholder pre-Forum sessions, 2 December, 3-6 pm. - Indigenous Peoples 

    - “Indigenous peoples’ rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises: Policy coherence at the international level”

    - Indigenous Peoples’ Statement at the Opening Session of the II Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights

  • National Human Rights Institutions

    Single stakeholder pre-Forum sessions, 2 December, 3-6 pm. - National Human Rights Institutions

    - Strengthening rights, responsibilities and remedies, bridging accountability

    - Danish Institute for Human Rights on NHRI Guidebook and E-Learning

    - ICC Guidebook for National Human Rights Institutions on Business and Human Rights

    - Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone

“Brown-bag lunch”: Regional focus on UN Guiding Principles dissemination and implementation (Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Western Europe and others) hosted by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, 2 December, 12.30-2.30 pm.

Consultation on the feasibility of a global fund to support capacity building on the UN Guiding Principles (Human Rights Council resolution 21/5)

2 December -- 9am - 12pm

Side event – Room IX

E, F, S (TBC)

Platform for tools, innovation and capacity building

Hosted by OHCHR and UNWG

1. Business and Human Rights Indicators – London School of Economics and partners
2. Digital Dangers project - University of Washington/Institute for Human Rights and Business
3. Applying the UN Guiding Principles to “Constructive campaigning” for civil society - Global CSR
4. Teaching Business and Human Rights – Columbia University Law School
5. Country portal launch (with laptops for testing—option to continue into lunch time) - Danish Institute for Human Rights

Side event – Room XI

E, F, S (TBC)

Presentation of selected national cases, research and good practice

Hosted by OHCHR and UNWG

1. Palm oil industry in Indonesia – Institute for Social and Cultural Rights-Indonesia and Norwegian Centre for Human Rights
2. UN Guiding Principles’ implication for Italian multinational corporations -- Bocconi University
3. Research on ASEAN and cases from South and Southeast Asia -- Accountability Counsel
4. Indigenous Women in the Americas – Plataforma contra la Impunidad
   E - S
5. Responsible Investment in Myanmar – Government of the United States of America
6. Research on policy coherence – Government of Finland
7. Engaging companies locally to implement the UNGPs --UN Global Compact Network Germany

3 December -- 1.30pm to 3pm

Side event – Room IX

E

Presentation of some projects supported by the UNWG
Hosted by the UNWG

Side event --Room XX

E, S, F

Land and human rights defenders in danger
World Organisation Against Torture, International Federation for Human Rights, Peace Brigades International, Center for International Environmental Law, EarthRights International, Friends of the Earth International, Global Witness, International Land Coalition, International Union for Conservation of Nature National Committee of the Netherlands, International Service for Human Rights, Forum Asia

Side event – Room XXI

E

International legal roundtable: mobilizing lawyers to advance the business and human rights framework
American Bar Association with Shift Project, International Bar Association, Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, Union Internationale des Avocats, Association International des Jeunes Avocats, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Human Rights Resource Centre – ASEAN, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable

Side event – Room XXII

E

Shared space:

1. Launch of OHCHR training module on Principles for Responsible Contracting
   London School of Economics
2. Experiences in transnational litigation
   European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights

Side event – Room XXIII

E

Shared space:

1. Public Procurement and Human Rights
   Danish Institute for Human Rights, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Norwegian Agency for Public Management and eGovernment, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable
2. Tax Abuse – a human rights issue
   Lawyers for Better Business/University of Johannesburg

Side event – Room XI

E

Business, human rights and conflict: challenges and good practice (from conflict prevention to operating in a conflict-affected area)

1. 1. Brief introduction to criteria and indicators for conflict areas – Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law
2. 2.Good corporate practice in conflict affected and high-risk areas – The Global Compact
3. 3. Challenges posed by joint venture agreements –  Constructive Engagement Group
4. 4. Role of UNGPs in preventing conflict around natural resources – Quaker UN Office

4 December -- 12pm - 1.30pm

Side event – Room XX

E

Consultation on the feasibility of a global fund to support capacity building on the UN Guiding Principles
(Human Rights Council resolution 21/5)

Hosted by OHCHR

Side event – Room XXI

E

Shared space: Human rights due diligence

1. The role of financial institutions in supporting effective human rights due diligence by business
   Association of Supervisors of Banks of the Americas
2. Human rights due diligence and impact assessments
   DLA Piper

Side event – Room XXII

E

Shared space:

1. National Action Plans – State strategies for implementing the UN Guiding Principles
   Danish Institute for Human Rights and International Corporate Accountability Roundtable
2. Human Rights Impact Assessments: different perspectives on a shared objective
   BG Group, Danish Institute for Human Rights, Institute for Human Rights and Business, Oxfam

Side event - Room XXIII

E

Shared space: Cases in the extractive sector

1. Nairobi Process (oil and gas in Kenya) – Kenya National Human Rights Commission/Institute for Human Rights and Business
2. Extractive industries in Southern Africa – Act Alliance
3. Extractive industries in Philippines – Franciscans International
4. Extractive industries in Palestine – Al Haq

Side event: Room IX

E

Shared space: Legal trends shaping corporate behavior

1. Role and relevance of corporate law  - City University of  Hong Kong and partners
2. Developments in commercial law and practice – Clifford Chance LLP and partners

Side event – Room XI

E

Access to Remedy: Opportunities and challenges for judicial and non-judicial grievance mechanisms
Moderator: European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights

1. Company mechanisms for addressing human rights complaints – CSR Europe
2. Access to Judicial Remedy report launch – International Corporate Accountability Roundtable,, Corporate Responsibility Coalition and European Coalition for Corporate Justice
3. Company-community dialogue facilitation – ACCESS Facility
4. Non-judicial grievance mechanisms – Rights and Accountability in Development/Mining Watch Canada

 

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Programme and documentation

• Final Programme Outline
• Conference Room Paper
• Provisional agenda and annotations
  E F S R A C
• Background note by the Secretariat
  E F S R A C
• Concept note prepared by the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
  E F S R A C

Please visit the webpages of the first annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, 3-5 December 2012 for documentation and highlights of the first Forum.

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Statements and submissions

Opening Plenary

• Opening statement by the President of the Human Rights Council
• Opening statement by the Chairperson of the Forum
• Opening statement by the Chairperson of the Working Group
• Opening statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Keynote address

• Joseph E. Stiglitz

Closing Plenary

• Aron Cramer, CEO, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
• Aisha L. Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs, African Union Commission
• Debbie Stothard, Secretary-General, FIDH and Coordinator, Altsean-Burma
• Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation, Climate Justice
• Closing remarks by the Chairperson of the Working Group

For other oral and written statements made at the Forum click here...

Submissions to the Working Group

In preparation for the second annual Forum the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises invited States, business, civil society and other stakeholders to submit their suggestions on topics and modalities for the Forum. In particular the Working Group asked for suggestions on:

• Specific topics/panels for the Forum, including names of potential speakers;
• Specific industry sectors to inquire on how the intersection between pillars one, two and three of the Guiding Principles (the State Duty to Protect, the Corporate Responsibility to Respect and Access to Remedy) play out in such sectors across the globe;
• Regional dynamics in the implementation of the Guiding Principles, including the interaction between regional bodies and individual States and companies;
• Examples of Guiding Principles implementation practice by States, business enterprises or other stakeholders on all or certain aspects of the Guiding Principles, for example, transparency measures such as reporting requirements;
• Specific examples of strategic initiatives that can shape State and business uptake of the Guiding Principles;
• Modalities that may be conducive to engaging key stakeholders and promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue at the Forum; and
• How to enhance the geographical balance and participation by key stakeholders from all regions, including business enterprises and affected individuals and communities.

Submissions

The following submissions were received:

States

• Chile
• Cuba
• Norway
• Spain
• Ecuador

United Nations entities and mechanisms

• Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
• Committee on the Rights of the Child

National human rights institutions

• International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs Working Group on Business and Human Rights
• Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme du Togo
• Defensoria del Pueblo Panamà
• Defensoria del Pueblo Venezuela
• Equality and Human Rights Commission United Kingdom

Business enterprises, associations, consultancies and professional bodies

• Allen and Overy LLP
• CEGESTI Sustainable Development
• Enact Sustainable Strategies
• International Council on Mining & Metals
• Law Council of Australia
• Meridian Group International Inc.
• Sustainalytics
• Change the Law Limited

Trade Unions

• Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro

Civil society organizations

• Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation
• BankTrack Network
• EIRIS Conflict Risk Network
• ESCR Net Corporate Accountability Working Group – Joint submission
• Incomindios Switzerland
• International Alert
• International Dalit Solidarity Network
• International Indian Treaty Council
• International Service for Human Rights
• Latin American Mining Monitoring Programme
• Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OMCT & FIDH)
• Peace Brigades International
• Privacy International
• Reporters Without Borders

Academics, think tanks, individuals

• Institute for Human Rights and Business
• Joel Krose
• Lauri Tanner
• Pennsylvania State University
• Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, 1-2

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Statements and written contributions