Biggest global gathering on business and human rights, Geneva (16-18 November)

GENEVA (2 November 2015) – Some 2,000 participants from governments, business, the investment community, grassroots and international non-governmental organisations and academia will come together for the fourth UN Forum on Business and Human Rights from 16 to 18 November at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The Forum is the world’s largest gathering on business and human rights. It brings together leaders, experts and practitioners to find ways to prevent and address human rights abuses in the economic sphere, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Some highlights of the issues to be discussed include:

• Mega Sporting Events - Identifying solutions to key human rights challenges associated with Mega Sporting Events with FIFA, Coca-Cola and the Rio Olympic Committee.
• Leadership views on business and human rights with the Dutch Minister for Trade and Development, Infosys, General Electric, Aviva Investors, Angolan journalist Rafael Marques de Morais and EarthRights.
• Securing rights online with Microsoft and Privacy International.
• Access to remedy with specific sessions on the financial sector and most severe abuses.
• Implementing forced labor rules: early experiences from UK Modern Slavery Act and US Federal Acquisition Regulation.
• State investment policies with the Colombia Government and Rio Tinto.
• Land and corruption with Unilever, Global Witness and Olivier de Schutter.
• Challenges faced by human rights defenders – speakers include prominent defenders, Alfred Brownell and Andy Hall.
• Beyond auditing in garment supply chain with H&M and Fair Wear Foundation.
• Corporate reporting with Statoil, Mazars, Shift and Clifford Chance.
• Sustainable Development Goals with Hermes Investment Management, GRI and the Kenyan Government.

Useful links:

• Business Forum webpage
• Speakers at the Forum
• Full programme (with speakers and links to concept notes)
• Quick-view programme (with links to concept notes)
• Register
• Watch the Forum live (UNWebTV)
• Follow on twitter: #bizhumanrights

Media inquiries:

If you would like help with contacting Forum speakers for interviews please email: forumbhr@ohchr.org (with “MEDIA INQUIRY” in subject line), or contact: Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org), Cecile Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)

Information on media accreditation:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Forum/Pages/Media.aspx or contact forumbhr@ohchr.org

BACKGROUND:

The annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights was established by the Human Rights Council in 2011 to promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights. In particular, the Forum looks at challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which provide an authoritative framework to prevent and address adverse human rights risks and impacts of business activities. To consult the Guiding Principles (in 6 languages) see: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Tools.aspx

The Forum is guided by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Learn more about the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx

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