Corporate accountability a key topic at APF 13

The power of the world’s 78,000 transnational corporations to influence human rights for good and ill, and the ability of national governments to regulate corporate activities that violate human rights, will be a key area of discussion at the APF’s 13th Annual Meeting, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from 28 to 31 July.

The issue will be considered in detail by the Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ), following a request by APF member institutions at the previous APF Annual Meeting, held in Sydney in September 2007.

As part of its reference on ‘Human Rights, Corporate Accountability and Government Responsibility’, the ACJ will also make recommendations on the role national human rights institutions (NHRIs) might play in their engagement with governments and transnational corporations (read the Summary Paper to the reference).

The ACJ will meet with APF members and other stakeholders on the first day of the Annual Meeting to listen to their views on the reference topic and hear about examples of current or proposed activities being undertaken in the area.

The ACJ will present an overview of their initial deliberations on the final day of the Annual Meeting, which will be followed by an open discussion involving APF members and registered observers.

As part of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the APF Annual Meeting will also discuss the meaning and effect of Article 29(2) of the UDHR, which sets out when limitations may be applied to certain rights and freedoms (read the Background Paper on Article 29(2)).

Other discussion topics include how NHRIs can engage effectively the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review mechanism (read the Background Paper on the UPR) and examples of regional cooperation between NHRIs.

There will also be country reports presented by APF member institutions, as well as presentations from government representatives and non-government organisations.

APF 13, which is being hosted by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, will bring together around 160 representatives from APF member institutions, other national human rights commissions, United Nations agencies, national governments, non-government organisations and donor groups.

Days one and two will include meetings of the Advisory Council of Jurists, the Senior Executive Officers and the Forum Council. Days three and four are set aside for the APF conference, which is open to APF members and all registered observers.

A conference program, along with other background papers and information, is available on the APF website.