LOC14:51
11:51 GMT
GENEVA, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- More than 1,000 participants from over 100
countries started on Monday in Geneva the 2nd United Nations Annual Forum on
Business and Human Rights, making it the largest global discussion on business
and human rights to date.
The three-day Forum will bring together, among others, representatives of
corporations involved in manufacturing, information and communication
technology, mining, oil and energy, agribusiness, banking and finance, as well
as people affected by these activities.
"The broad range of participants is what makes this event a success,"
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a press
release from her office.
"The Forum is a unique venue for bringing together business, Governments,
civil society and affected individuals in one space to promote dialogue and
cooperation", she added.
The discussions will explore the current situation of human rights in the
digital domain, international investment, agroindustry, employment and
recruitment, global supply chains, and public and private finance.
They will also focus on key human rights issues such as victims' access to
judicial and non-judicial remedy, and rights defenders confronting
business-related violations.
"The Forum is a once-a-year opportunity to collectively assess global
progress in the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights. It will address the impact of business activities
on human rights, and the challenges still to be tackled - across a range of
sectors and issues," Working Group Chair Alexandra Guaqueta said.
The Guiding Principles are globally accepted standards on the
responsibilities of States and businesses for preventing and addressing
business-related human rights abuse.
They outline what States and business enterprises should do to prevent and
address impacts and to ensure access to effective remedies for those whose
rights have been adversely affected by business activity.
In addition to the official sessions of the Forum, Governments, businesses,
civil society, indigenous peoples, academics, lawyers and national human
rights institutions are organising some 25 side events.
The opening day of the Forum will feature Nobel Prize winning economist
Joseph Stiglitz. The closing session will include remarks from Mary Robinson,
former President of Ireland and former High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other
Business Enterprises was established by the United Nations Human Rights
Council in June 2011. The five members are Alexandra Guaqueta (current
Chairperson-Rapporteur), Margaret Jungk, Michael Addo, Puvan Selvanathan and
Pavel Sulyandziga.
The Working Group is independent from any government or organization. It
reports to the Human Rights Council and to the UN General Assembly.
The annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights was established by the Human
Rights Council and placed under the guidance of the UN Working Group on the
issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business
enterprises to provide a global platform for the promotion and implementation
of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. (end)
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KUNA 021451 Dec 13NNNN