Opening Remarks for the 10th Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights

H.E. Ms. Nazhat Shameem Khan, President of the Human Rights Council

29 Novembre 2021

High Commissioner,
Excellencies,
Members of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights,
Distinguished panellists,
Friends and colleagues,

Bula Vinaka and good day.

It is an honour to join the opening of this 10th annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights focused on "The next decade of business and human rights: increasing the pace and scale of action to implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights".

At the outset, I would like to recognise the Working Group on Business and Human Rights for its continued guidance of this Forum and for an agenda which covers a range of key business and human rights issues. This recognition is especially well-deserved given the continuing challenges the COVID-19 pandemic poses to our efforts to promote and protect human rights for all.

Excellencies,
Distinguished panellists,
Friends and colleagues,

In June of this year, we marked the 10th anniversary of the Council’s endorsement of the Guiding Principles. This landmark endorsement established the Guiding Principles as the authoritative normative global framework for addressing business-related human rights impacts. In this connection, I would like to pay tribute once again to the memory of the late Professor John RUGGIE, former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and architect of the Guiding Principles. His legacy and contributions live on through our common efforts to realise a more sustainable and inclusive global economy in which business respects human rights.

If I may, I will turn to the key message of this year’s Forum, which is that all stakeholders need to increase the pace and scale of action to implement the Guiding Principles. This message is especially relevant today as we begin to emerge from the pandemic in an increasingly interconnected global economy. Indeed, businesses, platforms and the gig economy frequently operate beyond State borders and physical to global digital markets have changed the world of work. These rapid changes have been pushed forward by the pandemic and require careful thought on how to best address their impacts in a human rights-respecting manner.

Fortunately, the Guiding Principles perceptively articulate steps to prevent business-related human rights abuses and to provide remediation after abuse has occurred.  In this regard, I would like to reiterate that the Guiding Principles can and should serve as the foundation for all stakeholders’

Further, I welcome the Working Group’s “Roadmap for the next decade” of implementation which details both the strategic direction and policy-oriented steps needed to best implement the Guiding Principles in the coming years.  

It is my great hope that all actors, in implementing the Guiding Principles, will also reference the important work the Council has undertaken on a variety of human rights issues. Indeed, the Council has established a number of Special Procedures Mandate Holders, in addition to the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, covering mandates ranging from trafficking in persons to the right to privacy to the rights of persons living in extreme poverty. And these mandates, although diverse, produce resources that can each enrich our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of business and human rights.

Excellencies,
Distinguished panellists,
Friends and colleagues,

Before I conclude, I would like to emphasise that this Forum is an excellent opportunity to take stock of progress made, examine existing and emerging challenges, identify opportunities for further action and share good practices. In this connection, I strongly encourage robust multi-stakeholder dialogue, especially with our civil society partners and human rights defenders who importantly bring situations of concern to the world’s attention, connect us to those whose rights have been violated and speak out against human rights abuses.

I remind all participants that, whether our events are physical or virtual, the same standards of dignity, respect and tolerance apply. This Forum must remain a safe and inclusive space for all stakeholders, without discrimination, intimidation or reprisal.

I would like to thank the Working Group and OHCHR, together with the United Nations Office at Geneva, for facilitating this meeting and I wish you fruitful deliberations.

Vinaka vakalevu and I thank you.