About the Regional Forums on Business and Human Rights

The UN Human Rights Council established the Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights in 2011 to serve as a 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, including challenges faced in particular sectors, operational environments or in relation to specific rights or groups, as well as identifying good practices." It is guided and chaired by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, as per Human Rights Council resolutions 17/4 and 35/7.

Building on the first annual Forum on Business and Human Rights (2012), the Working Group identified the need for multi-stakeholder regional platforms to strengthen constructive dialogues and efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights at regional and national level. 

The Regional Forums also aim to encourage peer-learning amongst States and businesses at the regional level and to facilitate exchange of good practices. The Regional Forums are open to and encourage the participation of all relevant stakeholder groups, including States, the wider United Nations system, intergovernmental and regional organisations, businesses, labour unions, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, and affected stakeholders, among others.

Regional forums

Africa

• 2014 African Regional Forum

Asia & Pacific

• 2024 Pacific Forum
• 2022 South Asia Forum
• 2021 Pacific Forum
• 2021 South Asia Forum
• 2020 Pacific Forum
• 2020 South Asia Forum
• 2019 South Asia Forum
• 2016 Asia Regional Forum

Eastern Europe

• 2022 Eastern Europe and Central Asia Forum

Latin America and the Caribbean

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  • 2021 Sixth Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights for Latin America and the Caribbean – "Building together the Business and Human Rights and Responsible Business Conduct Agenda for the Next Decade", held virtually on 4-6 October 2021.
  • 2020 The Fifth Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights for Latin America and the Caribbean – “Realising responsible business conduct in difficult times: Turning challenges into opportunities”, held virtually on 7 to 11 September 2020. See the report V Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
  • 2019 The Fourth Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights – “Looking ahead: Actions to Foster Responsible Business Conduct” took place on 3 to 4 September 2019 in Santiago de Chile. See the Report of the IV Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights, of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, pictures and video
  • 2017 The Third Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights – “Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) within the framework of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”, held 12 to 14 December 2017 in Santiago, Chile. See Report of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights on the Third Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights in LAC (Español), with an Executive Summary in English
  • 2017 The Second Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights – held 17 to 19 January 2017, in Santiago, Chile
  • 2016 The Second Regional Consultation on Business and Human Rights – held 2 to 3 March 2016, in Santiago, Chile
  • 2013 LAC Regional Forum