2019 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

Session organized by International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and Impactt

Webcast of the session:
Meeting link
Meeting number: 841 119 422
Password: Fy2ggiUD

Session description
Since the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs) were endorsed in 2011, there has been much action to turn these principles into practice via a mix of State-led measures (either at the national level or through their membership of regional and international intergovernmental organisations), via multiple private-sector activities, and through many NGO, trade union, NHRI, investor and multi-stakeholder efforts. While engagement on business and human rights grows, as awareness of the global standards spreads and as experience develops, there is at times a disconnect between the current top-down approach (however well intentioned) and the lived experiences for workers, communities and business on the ground. This session will explore why the trend for top-down measures exists; what it has and has not achieved; and how to address the disconnect between the bulk of these actions and the lived experiences locally.

Session objectives

1. To explore the barriers in achieving broad-based progress for all workers, communities and businesses of top-down measures that States take and encourage through their policy measures, engagement through multilateral institutions, and funding of projects.
2. To consider the broad range of State actions and measures that can deliver positive impacts on the ground that reflect local contexts, traditions, cultures and practices..

Format of the session
Interactive moderated panel discussion with a break-out group discussion.

Part 1: Panel speakers provide their reflections on the disconnect and unintended consequences of top-down measures by States with the lived experiences.

Part 2: Break-out group discussion with the audience on what States can do to go beyond the largely top-down approach to deliver real and broad-based positive impacts on the ground that reflect local contexts, traditions, cultures and practices.

Key discussion questions

• What does the top-down approach look like?
• What is driving the spate of top-down measures?
• Why is it disconnected from realities on the ground?
• What needs to happen to address the disconnect between top-down measures and lived experiences for workers, communities and all business enterprises? (i.e. how can States and others be encouraged and supported to re-think this largely top-down approach to deliver real and broad-based positive impacts on the ground that reflect local contexts, traditions and cultures?)
• What would a bottom-up approach, conversely, look like? Is that feasible given the size and complexity of the world and this topic?
• At the very least, how can a more holistic approach be achieved?