Human rights are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Paragraph 67 of Agenda 2030 calls on “all businesses to apply their creativity and innovation to solving sustainable development challenges” and for States to “foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector, while protecting labour rights and environmental and health standards in accordance with relevant international standards and agreements and other ongoing initiatives in this regard, such as the UN Guiding Principles [UNGP] on Business and Human Rights.”
Endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, the UNGPs represent the internationally accepted framework for enhancing standards and practices with regard to Business and Human Rights. Despite the unprecedented impact of the UNGPs in all levels of policy-making and corporate practice, their implementation still faces significant challenges, while corporate human rights abuses threaten progress in sustainable development efforts.
In light of these facts, UNITAR, in collaboration with the ESA Business School CRED Research Center is proud to announce the launch of the Free e-Workshops on the Challenges and Drivers of the State Duty to Protect and Promote Human Rights !
This free e-Workshop, supported by the Strategic Framework Fund (SFF), will enable participants to define UNGPs, assess policy and regulatory frameworks on the State duty to protect human rights in the context of business operations, and appraise the significance of National Action Plans (NAPs).
UNITAR is conscious to give equal access and opportunity to any interested participants. Therefore, to allow prospective participants from around the world to take part in this essential e-Workshop at reasonable hours, the activity will take place at three different intervals. The first e-Workshop is dedicated to the Americas and the Caribbean (UNECLAC). The second will cover the Asia-Pacific region (UNESCAP), while the third will cover the African and Western Asian time zones (UNECA & UNESCWA). Please find below more details on the tenure of the e-workshops.
For more information, kindly contact the International Law Programme.