UN Global Compact Brings Business Perspective to United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights

(4 December 2013, Geneva) – The UN Global Compact joined more than 1,700 participants from Government, civil society, and business who convened 2-4 December for the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights – helping to bring the voice of the private sector to critical discussions on trends and challenges in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 

Held in Geneva, the second annual Forum aimed to share perspectives and information about experiences, challenges, practices, tools and initiatives for advancing the business and human rights agenda and the implementation of the Guiding Principles.

At the invitation of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, the UN Global Compact convened a business stakeholder meeting to facilitate dialogue among peers, and discuss key challenges and opportunities associated with implementing the Guiding Principles. Organized in collaboration with Business for Social Responsibility, the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organisation of Employers, the meeting focused on how companies engage with third parties, whether in commercial relationships, civil society or Government. A report of the meeting is available here.

The Global Compact further contributed to the Forum by introducing several global platforms and initiatives, local engagement activities and a new publication:

• Business for Peace: The UN Global Compact, the Constructive Engagement Group, the Quaker UN Office and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law co-hosted a side event on implementing the Guiding Principles in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The Global Compact’s recently launched Business for Peace platform was highlighted as a promising initiative to scale up business’ contribution to peace. (View Agenda)  
• Children’s Rights and Business Principles: In a session dedicated to applying the Guiding Principles to the rights of children, the Children’s Rights and Business Principles – a joint initiative of UNICEF, the UN Global Compact and Save the Children – was highlighted as an important resource to guide businesses to respect and support children’s rights in their policies and practices. Since their global release in March 2012, the Children’s Principles have been launched locally in 30 countries. 
• Local Engagement:In a session dedicated to understanding the progress of the Guiding Principles in Africa, Global Compact Board Member Pierre Sané addressed the integral role Global Compact Local Networks play in advancing human rights. As part of a separate event, Global Compact Network Germany presented how it supports uptake of the Guiding Principles in Germany and beyond, and shared experiences from broad multi-stakeholder dialogues on business and human rights.
• Indigenous Peoples: The Global Compact released A Business Reference Guide to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which aims to help business understand the rights of indigenous peoples and recommends practical actions to respect and support these rights. (View Agenda)

Established in 2012, the United Nations Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights is hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. The Forum provides a global platform for the promotion and implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These Principles, unanimously endorsed in 2011 by the Human Rights Council, are the first globally accepted standards on the responsibilities of States and businesses for preventing and addressing business-related human rights abuse. 

• Download meeting report
• View all Side Events for United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights 
• Learn more about the UN Global Compact’s work to advance the business contribution to human rights. 

Contact

Ursula Wynhoven
General Counsel
UN Global Compact
wynhoven@un.org