The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights is convening the African Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights, due to be held from 16 to 18 September 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Forum is organised with the support of the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Global Compact are also collaborating to support the organisation of the event.

Background

The Forum provides a multi-stakeholder regional platform for dialogue on the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which are the United Nations-endorsed standard to define the respective duties and responsibilities of Governments and business enterprises for preventing and addressing adverse human rights impacts arising from business activities.  The Working Group on Business and Human Rights has a mandate to promote the effective and comprehensive implementation of the Guiding Principles world-wide and to identify, exchange and promote good practices and lessons learned. The event is the second regional forum convened by the Working Group.

Objectives and focus

The main goals are to promote multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation on business and human rights and on the implementation of the Guiding Principles, provide capacity-building opportunities for practitioners and civil society, identify material issues and challenges on business and human rights in the region, identify emerging innovative practices designed to manage corporate impacts, and reinforce synergies between global efforts and initiatives at the regional and local levels.

Key issues that will be expected to be addressed at the African Regional Forum include challenges and opportunities for implementing the Guiding Principles related to:

• National action plans
• Access to effective remedies (both judicial and non-judicial)
• Investment in natural resources (extractive industries and land)
• The important role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the informal sector
• Ways of promoting the prevention and mitigation of business-related human rights risks
• Capacity building
• Sharing experiences and lessons from other regions

Agenda

Participation

Practical information

Background documentation

Submissions

Statements

Side events

Contact