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Summary: The report provides a summary of the discussions of the first annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, held on 4 and 5 December 2012.
On 4 / 5 December 2012, participants from 85 countries, including around 40 State delegations, 150 business enterprises and 170 civil society organisations, took part in the UN's first annual Forum on Business and Human Rights. The Forum is designed to promote the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a set of internationally accepted principles which provide a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of negative human rights impacts linked to business activity. The Guiding Principles. which were endorsed on 16 June 2011 by the Human Rights Council, outline what States and business enterprises should do in practice to prevent and address impacts and to ensure access to effective remedies for those whose rights have been adversely affected by business activity. Opening address Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that while the Principles recognize that “responsible governance requires the adoption of adequate regulatory and policy frameworks” to counter business-related human rights abuses, she added that enhancing legal standards “may be necessary” at national, regional or international levels. “There is a particularly pressing case for such legal developments when it comes to business involvement in gross human rights abuse,” Ms. Pillay said. Summary of discussions The attached report provides a summary of the discussions. Further Information