2019 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

Session organized by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

Interpretation provided in French, English and Spanish by DOCIP

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

About this session
Largely overlooked to date by the field of business and human rights, this session aims to put a spotlight on the issue of integrating the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the context of bilateral development cooperation and finance (whereas the policies and practice of international finance institutions have been subject to greater examination). And while private sector development has increasingly been emphasized in international development cooperation, and the private sector is recognized as a key contributor to the Sustainable Development Agenda, less attention has been given to the need for managing human rights risks linked to business activities and dynamics of private sector development.

Recently, some development agencies and development finance institutions have taken steps to develop polices and human rights due diligence frameworks in line with the UN Guiding Principles. The session aims to learn from such experiences and to engage the audience in a debate on the importance of applying the UN Guiding Principles in the context of bilateral development cooperation and finance, and the way forward for making wider progress in this area.

Background
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights call for policy coherence between the State’s international human rights obligations to protect and support human rights and the policies and practice of government actors that interface with the business sector. They clarify that “States should ensure that governmental departments, agencies and other State-based institutions that shape business practices are aware of and observe the State’s human rights obligations when fulfilling their respective mandates, including by providing them with relevant information, training and support.”
Previously the Working Group has examined how to integrate the Guiding Principles in the context of economic diplomacy (including by export credit agencies) and the governance and practice of State-owned enterprises.
The Working Group has also issued recommendations on the connection between the Guiding Principles and the SDGs: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Business/Session18/InfoNoteWGBHR_SDGRecommendations.pdf