Event information

2 December 2022, 10:00-11:30
Register start 21 November 2022
Register end 2 December 2022

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Towards a Helpdesk for Business on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Human Rights Conversations

The 2022 United Nations (UN) Forum on Business and Human Rights addresses the question of accountability, and focuses on regional approaches. To reach this accountability, businesses have to take a certain number of steps, including self-awareness and problem identification. They may also need specific guidance on the implementation and interpretation of the UN Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in a particular context or environment.

The business and human rights community has witnessed a proliferation of guidance and capacity-building measures, which take a variety of forms, and target a broad range of audiences. Yet, while they bring awareness about the UNGPs and increase companies' understanding of human rights due diligence in practice, they lack the last step of overarching and global guidance.

With these shortcomings in mind, the roadmap for implementing the UNGPs – launched for the UNGPs’ 10th anniversary – recommended the establishment of a global UNGPs Helpdesk hosted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and tasked with the development of authoritative guidance for businesses in interpreting and implementing the UNGPs. Its role would be complementary to company-led or national initiatives.

The momentum around a range of existing and pending legislative measures at national, regional and international levels on business and human rights offers a critical opportunity to reflect on the development of such a helpdesk.

At the margins of the UN Forum, this Human Rights Conversation – co-organized with the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Brazil – will look at the accountability question by reflecting on the type of guidance available and the next steps needed to guide business on the UNGPs’ implementation to ensure, ultimately, better accountability.

As one example, panelists will notably discuss the so-called ‘Human Rights Thermometer’. Part of the Human Rights Track ("Trilha de Direitos Humanos") developed by UNGC Brazil and Proactiva, this thermometer is an online self-assessment platform where companies answer a series of tailor-made questions and receive a report that preliminarily indicates, through graphs and visuals, where their main challenges and strengths could lie in relation to respect and fulfilment of human rights responsibilities..

Moderator

  • Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform

Panelists

  • Rafael Benke, Proactiva / presenting the ‘Human Rights Thermometer’
  • Gerald Pachoud, Associate Researcher, Geneva Academy
  • Isabel Ebert, University of St. Gallen / Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Tayná Leite, Human Rights, Labor and Gender Senior Manager, UN Global Compact Brazil
  • Lisiane Lemos, Board Member, Founder and Member of Conselheira 101

Video

Human Rights Conversation: Towards a Helpdesk for Business on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Watch this Human Rights Conversation – co-organized with the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Brazil – at the margins of the UN Forum, which looked at the accountability question by reflecting on the type of guidance available and the next steps needed to guide business on the UNGPs’ implementation to ensure, ultimately, better accountability.