In its resolution 17/4, the Human Rights Council established the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises for a period of three years, and requested that the Working Group report annually to the Council and the General Assembly.  

The Human Rights Council appointed the members of the Working Group at its eighteenth session and they formally took up their role on 1 November 2011. The Working Group held its first session from 16 to 20 January 2012.  

In the present report, drafted in a short period following the first session, the Working Group outlines its preliminary views concerning the background and context of the mandate, highlights positive examples of existing initiatives to disseminate and implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and outlines the main proposals and recommendations made by stakeholders in submissions to the Working Group and during informal exchanges carried out at its first session. The Working Group then presents an outline of the preliminary strategy that will inform its work for the remainder of the mandate, including strategic considerations that it will take into account and specific work streams. The present report concludes with an outline of the Working Group’s approach to engagement with stakeholders, as well as its methods of work.