Session organized by the European Union External Action Service and the Council of Europe
Brief Description of focus and objectives:
Regional organisations can play an important role to foster progress at national level on the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), by facilitating the exchange of good practice, promoting peer learning, and harmonising regulation among others. This session will present recent efforts made by several regional organisations to encourage races to the top on business and human rights amongst their member states, alongside initiatives sharing experience with other regions in the world and supporting National Action Plans. It will also offer a discussion on how regional organisations can best work with their members and partners in the pursuit of a race to the top.
Format of the session:
The session will feature speakers from regional organisations and national governments in two rounds of discussion:
- Highlighting recent initiatives and the lessons learned in fostering regional and national developments;
- Exchanges on how best to mutually support one another in a regional race to the top.
The session will also call business and NGOs/trade unions representatives to share their perspective on achieving a “race to the top” and their relationship with regional organisations. It will also provide an opportunity for partners of EU-supported regional projects (OECD, ILO, OHCHR, UN Working Group, UNDP as well as countries in Latin America and Asia) to share their experience.
Speakers of the session:- Developments at the Council of Europe and presentation of the online platform on human rights and business: Christophe Poirel, Director, Human Rights Directorate, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI), Council of Europe
- Developing a Business and Human Rights Policy Framework at Regional level, Mr Ikubaje John Gbodi, Senior Political Officer, African Union Commission, Department for Political Affairs
- EU level initiatives promoting races to the top in Europe and supporting races to the top in other regions, EU supported projects in Asia and Latin America, Hilde Hardeman, Director - Head of Service, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, European Commission
- Lessons learned from the European regional peer learning exercise on the implementation of the UNGPs, Jochen Anthierens, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
- Perspective for future actions at regional level based on national experiences, Dr. Kent Wilska, Commercial Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland ( EU presidency)
