A RECORDING OF THIS SESSION IS AVAILABLE HERE.Español abajo Session organized by the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, in collaboration with the European Union, ILO and OECD in the context of the Responsible Business Conduct Project in Latin America and the Caribbean (RBCLAC) Interpretation in English, French and Spanish available Brief description of the session In the framework of this year’s Forum theme, and building on the
5th Regional Forum in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) (held virtually on 7-11 September), with the support of the EU-Funded project on “
Responsible Business Conduct in Latin America and the Caribbean (RBCLAC)”, organized in collaboration with OECD and ILO, the discussion in that session seeks to continue and promote multi-stakeholder dialogue on emerging practices and challenges in the region to prevent business-related human rights abuses.
Strengthening coherent regulatory frameworks on responsible business conduct; conducting effective due diligence; significant multi-stakeholder engagement and social dialogue; as well as accountability have all an important preventive role to play in addressing adverse impacts. The panel represented by the voice of various sectors, - State, access to remedy mechanism, business sector, civil society organizations, workers, and indigenous communities, will discuss, in an open manner with the audience, the measures that have been taken to prevent these negative impacts, and reflect on solutions and responses to respond to the still persistent challenges.
Key objectives of the session - Showcase the role of governments and businesses to prevent adverse impact on human rights
- Highlight emerging practice and challenges on preventing such impacts
- Strengthen a race to the top among governments and business in the region
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue around lessons learned and the way forward on the prevention on human rights adverse impacts, and to cope with the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis
- Exchange views and suggestions with regard to the activities of the RBCLAC project
Key questions - How greater policy coherence on RBC-related question can prevent corporate human rights abuses, including through NAP as a catalyst of state actions.
- How stakeholder’s engagement and social dialogue help preventing business adverse impacts?
- What are the obstacles and opportunities for effective access to effective remedy in the region?
- How the recognition of the critical role of human rights defenders could contribute to prevent business-related human rights abuse?
- How can respect for the rights to consultation and consent of indigenous peoples contribute to preventing negative impacts on the rights of indigenous peoples; and how should these processes be maintained in times of crisis, such as the COVID 19 pandemic?
Background to the discussion This UN Forum session will provide a space to listen to all stakeholders’ perspectives in order to take stock of achievements to date, assess existing gaps and challenges, and, most importantly, develop a vision for implementing the UNGPs more widely, as well as
other relevant international instruments on RBC such as the ILO MNE Tripartite Declaration and the OECD MNE Guidelines on multinational enterprises, and more broadly in the region.
Through the RBCLAC project, it has been possible to analyse, together with the main stakeholders in the countries and relevant international actors, where the main progress in terms of preventing business-related adverse impacts, identifying emerging practices and opportunities to further strengthen the prevention of such impacts on human rights, including the rights of workers, the society and the planet. Among these factors, the adoption and implementation of coherent regulatory frameworks, meaningful participation of all stakeholders in decision-making processes; and accountability, have proven to contribute substantially to preventing these potential negative consequences. This panel will present these advances; looking also frankly at what remains to be done, in order to reflect on solutions accepted by all stakeholders. The dialogue session will be based on the current activities of the Project and its results, and will seek to inform ongoing and future activities of the Project.
Sesión organizada por el Grupo de Trabajo de las Naciones Unidas sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos en colaboración con la Union Europea, la Organización Internacional de Trabajo y la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico en el marco del proyecto Conducta Empresarial Responsable en America Latina y el Caribe (CERLAC)Interpretación al inglés, francés y español disponible Descripción breve de la sesión En el marco del tema del Foro de este año, y en base a la
V Foro Regional en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) (celebrado virtualmente los días 7 a 11 de septiembre), con el apoyo del proyecto financiado por la UE sobre
Conducta Empresarial Responsable en América Latina y el Caribe (CERALC), organizado en colaboración con la OCDE y la OIT, la discusión de esa sesión busca continuar y promover el diálogo de múltiples partes interesadas sobre las prácticas emergentes y desafíos en la región para prevenir los abusos de los derechos humanos relacionados con las empresa
s.Fortalecer marcos regulatorios coherentes sobre la conducta empresarial responsable; la realización de debida diligencia efectiva; la participación de múltiples partes interesadas y el diálogo social; así como la rendición de cuentas tienen una importante función preventiva en materia de impactos adversos. El panel representado por voces de varios sectores - Estado, mecanismos de acceso a reparación, empresas, personas defensoras de derechos humanos, personas trabajadoras, y comunidades indígenas, discutirá, de forma abierta con la audiencia, las medidas que han sido tomadas para prevenir esos impactos negativos, y reflexionará sobre soluciones y respuestas para responder a los desafíos aun persistentes.
Objetivos clave de la sesión- Mostrar el papel de los gobiernos y las empresas para prevenir las consecuencias negativas en los derechos humanos
