2022 Africa Forum on Business and Human Rights

Interpretation in English and French provided by DOCIP

Session organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights and African Union Commission

Objective: Unanimously endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) provide the normative framework to address and improve human rights standards in the business sector. Directed at States and companies, the UNGPs clarify their respective duties and responsibilities to protect and respect human rights in the context of business activities and to ensure access to an effective remedy for individuals and groups affected by such activities. As part of its mandate to promote the UNGPs and the UNGPs 10+ project, the Working Group on Business and Human Rights (UNWG) took stock of implementation of the UNGPs in the first decade and launched a Roadmap charting a course for action in the decade ahead. The UNGPs are starting to become better known in the Africa region. Yet, awareness among all stakeholder groups about the UNGPs and understanding of the expectations regarding States and businesses respective duties and responsibilities to protect and respect human rights require further strengthening. This optional session will provide a basic introduction to the UNGPs. In addition, the session will provide information to participants on how UN and African Union (AU) human rights mechanisms can be accessed by human rights defenders and victims of business-related abuses to obtain remedies.