2019 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

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

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

Part 2 of the WEOG-dialogue will focus on the role of home States in promoting responsible investment and responsible business in post-conflict and reconstruction contexts, as well as considerations for fragile situations more generally.

The discussions will help inform a project by the UN Working Group on business and human rights in conflict and post-conflict areas. For details about that project, see: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/ConflictPostConflict.aspx.

A key question for the dialogue: how to ensure that investments contribute to peacebuilding and to development in post-conflict and reconstruction contexts, and what is the role of home States (while noting the duty of host States to protect human rights within their territories)?

While policy options for both home and host States to promote corporate respect for human rights in conflict-affected areas were explored in a companion report to the Guiding Principles (UN Document A/HRC/17/32), such options for the immediate aftermath of conflict, i.e. in a post-conflict and fragile setting –– need further examination in order to identify the adequate interventions for States, business, investors and the international community.

Taking a broad view on the interplay between investment, business activities and post-conflict dynamics, the dialogue will seek to explore the role of home and host States in relation to several aspects, including:

• How to foster business conduct and investments that contribute to sustainable development and stability?
• What tools do States have to incentivize and guide companies and investors with regard to steering clear of business relationships with actors potentially linked to the worst human rights abuses?
• How to support civil society’s role in promoting accountability and development of effective governance structures?
• Looking at external and global system dynamics, what is expected of governments when acting as members of multilateral institutions, such as international financial institutions, to ensure policy coherence and help underpin business conduct that respects human rights and contributes to peacebuilding?

The session is part of a thematic track at the Forum that seeks to inform the UN Working Group on business and human rights in conflict and post-conflict areas. Other relevant sessions:

• Addressing business-related human rights impacts in conflict and post-conflict contexts to build sustainable peace, 26 November (organized by the Working Group)
• Regulating business in contexts of conflict and occupation – what more is needed?, 26 November (Organized by University of Essex)