The Third United Nations Forum on Human Rights and Business, chaired by Dr Mo Ibrahim, commenced on 1 December and concluded on 3 December. The Forum was established under the guidance of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises to:
“discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights, including challenges faced in particular sectors, operational environments or in relation to specific rights or groups, as well as identifying good practices.”
The theme for the 2014 Forum was Advancing business and human rights globally: alignment, adherence and accountability.
Mo Ibrahim delivered the opening address at the Third United Nations Forum on Human Rights and Business. In his address, Mo Ibrahim raised questions around what the next steps should be around the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights which are already in existence. He also asked questions on measurement, monitoring and publication of reports.
Governments must deliver on the National Action Plans. Business must develop their corporate plans. Civil society must also assist them both in delivering their plans. However, the plans alone are not enough. We need a tool to measure and report progress. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are wonderful but if no one implements and measures them, they are worthless. And we are all wasting our time.
