Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
6th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights
Date
28 - 30 November 2017
LOCATION
Geneva (Switzerland)
| Speakers: | Latest speaker list |
| Programme: | 2017 Forum programme The UN Forum on Business and Human Rights is the global platform for yearly stock-taking and lesson-sharing on efforts to move the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights from paper to practice. The central theme of the 2017 Forum is “Realizing Access to Effective Remedy”. |
| Documents: |
Report of the 2017 Forum is available here (Advance Edited Version) |
| Get involved: |
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| Contact: | forumbhr@ohchr.org |
| Hashtag: | #UNForumBHR / #bizhumanrights |
| Watch videos of Forum sessions and speakers: |
About the Forum
The UN Forum is the world's largest annual gathering on business and human rights with more than 2,000 participants from government, business, community groups and civil society, law firms, investor organisations, UN bodies, national human rights institutions, trade unions, academia and the media.
Over three days, participants take part in 60+ panel discussions on topics that relate to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the "Protect", "Respect" and "Remedy" Framework), as well as current business-related human rights issues.
The Forum is the foremost event to network, share experiences and learn about the many initiatives to promote corporate respect for human rights.
The UN Human Rights Council, under paragraph 12 of its resolution 17/4, established the Forum to serve as a key global platform for stakeholders to ”discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles and promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights.” It is guided by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
Statements and submissions
Plenary statements
- Opening remarks by Mr. Surya Deva, Chairperson of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights
- Opening remarks by Ms. Peggy Hicks Director Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Address to the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
- Closing plenary statement by the Chairperson of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Surya Deva
- Closing plenary statement by the Caucus of indigenous peoples at the 2017 Forum [English] [Spanish]
- Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and Chief Executive Officer, BNP Paribas [English] [French]
Session on national action plans
- Belgium
- Chile
- Colombia
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Norway
- Poland
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
Other statements and written contributions
- OHCHR introduction to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- European Union contribution to the 2017 Forum
Submitting background information
The 2017 Forum will have a major focus on the issue of access to remedy for business-related human rights impacts – the third pillar of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In order to inform preparations, the Forum Secretariat is doing a mapping of ongoing research and projects linked to this topic. All stakeholders are encouraged to submit brief information about ongoing or planned research and projects for 2017-18 related to the issue of access to remedy in the context of business and human rights. The information should be submitted via this online form. The mapping is available here.
The Working Group on Business and Human Rights also welcomes general submissions, which will be used as appropriate by the Working Group to inform its work in guiding the Forum. Information received relating to the 2017 Forum:
- Joint letter from Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations – SOMO, Advocates for International Development, Conectas Direitos Humanos, Global Witness, International Federation for Human Rights – FIDH, International Service for Human Rights, Lumière Synergie pour le Développement
- Letter from the Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers
”Post-Forum” events
Consultations organized by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights
External events
A number of other organizations are convening events and consultations on business and human rights in the days after the Forum. Organizations wishing to highlight “Post-Forum” events to other participants are encouraged to submit details via this link. The information will be compiled here as received.
Video Links
27 November
| Opening plenary | |
| Implementing the UNGPs through policy and regulation – Trends and case studies |
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| Private sector standing up for human rights | See video |
| Introductory session | See video |
28 November
| Protecting and supporting human rights defenders | See video |
| Private sector standing up for human rights | See video |
| Access to remedy through multi-stakeholder engagement |
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29 November
| National action plans(NAPs) and access to remedy | |
| Private sector standing up for human rights | |
| Addressing modern slavery | |
| Closing plenary |
Video clips
Watch 2017 participants discuss some #BizHumanRights issues
- Opening plenary speakers. Peggy Hicks (OHCHR), Winnie Byanyima (Executive Director of Oxfam International), Maryam Al-Khawaja (Special Advisor, Gulf Center for Human Rights), Kalpona Akter (Executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity), Marcela Manubens (VP for integrated social sustainability)
- Closing plenary speakers: Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) and Jean-Laurent Bonnafe (CEO of BNP Paribas)