UN: Working Group on Business and Human Rights seeks contributions

The UN Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, established by the UN Human Rights Council on 17 June 2011, and charged with the promotion of respect for human rights by business of all sizes, in all sectors, and in all countries, is inviting governments, companies, trade unions, international agencies, national human rights institutions and NGOs to share their thoughts to help it establish its work programme.

The Working Group will take into account proposals by all relevant actors in advance of its first session (16-20 January 2012), during which its five independent experts will determine the Group’s key thematic priorities and activities. Let them know what you think at wg-business@ohchr.org. 

Deadline for submissions is 8 december 2011.

The new expert body started its activities this week focusing on a set of internationally accepted UN guidelines, which provide for the first time a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse human rights impacts linked to business activity. The UN Framework and Guiding Principles on business and human rights outline what States and business enterprises should do to ensure that human rights are respected by business, and to ensure access to effective remedies for those whose rights have been adversely affected by business activity.

Besides promoting and disseminating these Guiding Principles, the Working Group must ensure that they are effectively implemented by both governments and business, and that they result in improved outcomes for individuals and groups around the world whose rights have been affected by business activity. How best to achieve this complex task? Share your views at wg-business@ohchr.org.