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Summary: The new UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights held its first meeting from 16 - 20 January this year. Below are the outcomes of the meeting.
The recently formed UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises held its first session in Geneva from 16 - 20 January, during which its five independent experts discussed the Group's key thematic priorities and activities. In addition to agreeing to conduct two country visits each year as part of the process of effectively implementation and dissemination of the Guiding Principles, the Working Group decided to appoint a Chairperson to steer the meetings (to be rotated amongst the members every two sessions). NGO Interaction The Working Group acknowledged the importance of a consultative and inclusive approach to the implementation of its mandate and following the introductory exchanges with Member States and relevant stakeholders held during the 1st session, the Working Group intends to continue engaging in regular dialogue and cooperation with States, human rights mechanisms, inter-governmental bodies, relevant UN entities, regional and national human rights institutions, representatives of business, civil society organisations, representatives of indigenous peoples, and any other relevant stakeholders, including representatives of impacted communities. Call for input The Working Group intends to call for input from all relevant stakeholders on general mandate-related issues and/or issues relating to work streams and activities on a regular basis. This will be done in order to solicit information, documentation, good practice, challenges and lessons learned on the implementation of the Guiding Principles. Subject to the specific requirements of different work streams and to the availability of adequate funding, the Working Group will also consider other means of consultation with relevant stakeholders, including regional or expert consultations and through country missions. The Forum on Business and Human Rights will also serve as a platform for involving and consulting all relevant stakeholders. The Working Group is mindful of the work carried out by other treaty bodies and Special Procedures mandates, and will collaborate with these human rights mechanisms and take into consideration existing standards and initiatives developed by international and regional human rights mechanisms as well as the available knowledge and tools produced to date by UN bodies, including the UN Global Compact, States, business, and civil society on the subject of business and human rights. Dates of 2012 sessions of the Working Group • 1st session: Geneva, 16 – 20 January 2012 Dates of 2012 Forum on Business and Human Rights • 4-5 December 2012 Reporting The Working Group will submit its first annual report to the Human Rights Council at the 20th session of the Council (June 2012).
Future meetings
• 2nd session: Geneva, 7 – 11 May 2012
• 3rd session: Geneva, 26 – 30 November 2012
Further Information
- Read more about the new Working Group
- Read the Guiding Principles
- Read more about the process and NGO criticism
- Read CRIN's statement lamenting the lack of focus on children
pdf: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WorkingMethods.aspx