11th UN Forum on business and human rights

(Version française ci-jointe)
(Versión en español adjunta)

Interpretation available in English, French and Spanish

Session organized by the UN Working Group on business and human rights

Brief description of the session:
In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) unanimously endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). They articulate the obligations of States and the responsibilities of companies to prevent and address adverse human rights impacts of business activities.

While the UNGPs have increasingly become better known by governments, businesses, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society actors, academia and the legal community across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, significant gaps remain to translate the UNGPs into effective protection and remedy frameworks that advance corporate responsibility for human rights and the environment across the region.

The Roadmap for the next decade of business and human rights developed by the Working Group offers the MENA region a framework to further implement the UNGPs from a rights holder’s perspective, and an opportunity for private sector actors to leverage their positions to advance responsible business practices in all economic sectors. The MENA region faces a number of human rights challenges and includes a number of countries with varying economic and social levels. The region is still facing ongoing conflicts in Yemen, and Syria and has experienced diverse levels of economic growth and social change. A number of the counties in the region are heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry and are currently in the process of grappling with the global pressure of moving from brown to green economies. This change offers the region an opportunity to further implement the UN guiding principles on business and human rights and an opportunity for the private sector to leverage its position to see positive human rights changes. Challenges in relation to inequalities, discrimination, technological advancements, migration, gender, corruption still remain, however there are opportunities for multistakeholder dialogue between States, businesses, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to word together to advance human rights and protect the environment.

This session will explore amongst a spectrum of actors the progress that has been made on the business and human rights agenda and will aim to identify areas that can be further advanced and which protection gaps still remain. The session will also look at the implementation of the UNGPs, in particular, highlighting government action and the development of Business and Human Rights National Action Plans (NAPs).

Key objectives of the session:

• Examine ways in which the UNGPs have been used to strengthen human rights and environmental protection in the MENA region and emerging tangible impacts for rights holders.
• Encourage open and constructive multi-stakeholder dialogue on the challenges involved in protecting and promoting human rights in a business setting in the MENA region;
• Provide an opportunity for States and businesses to discuss ways in which the UNGPs can be translated into clear and comprehensive laws, National Action Plans, policies and programmes;
• Discuss practical steps to advance greater awareness on, and the implementation of the UNGPs across the MENA region and build the capacity of all stakeholders to use the UNGPs as an effective tool for all stakeholders to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities to protect and respect human rights and the environment.

Key discussion questions:

• How can the MENA region harness the potential of its youth to develop sustainable, inclusive and rights-based economic and social framework?
• How can the private sector use its leverage to protect and promote human rights in the MENA region?