Putting human rights on the business agenda

A task force of eight national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from around the world will be established to help NHRIs engage and inform business groups on human rights issues.

The establishment of Working Group on ‘Business and Human Rights’, which will hold its first meeting before 30 June, was one of a number of practical outcomes from the 22nd meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC), held in Geneva from 23 - 27 March.

Other key issues discussed at the ICC 22 meeting included:

• finalising the new ICC statute and governance structure
• recommendations to promote NHRI participation in the Commission on the Status of Women
• steps taken by NHRIs to implement the Nairobi Declaration
• the report of the November 2008 session of ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation, and
• participation of the ICC and individual NHRIs at the Durban Review Conference.

Business and Human Rights

It was agreed that the ICC’s new Working Group on Business and Human Rights, to comprise two NHRIs from each of the four regions, will focus on:

• strategic planning (to help facilitate the inclusion of business and human rights issues in the work of NHRIs and encourage joint NHRI programs)
• capacity building and resource sharing (to support the skills development of NHRI staff and provide a platform for NHRIs to exchange best practices and tools), and
• agenda setting and outreach (to promote the participation of the ICC and NHRIs in key debates at the international, regional and domestic levels in relation to business and human rights)

Ms Lene Wendland, OHCHR Advisor on Human Rights and Business, told the meeting that a growing number of NHRIs are becoming involved in the area, although often with a limited focus.

She drew attention to an online forum examining solutions to grievances and disputes involving business and civil society <visit http://www.business-humanrights.org>, as well as other resources on the site which can be used by NHRIs to engage business and corporate groups on key human rights issues.

ICC Statute

After intense discussion, final agreement was reached on the structure of the ICC and the powers and functions of the ICC General Assembly and the ICC Bureau.

The ICC’s Statute of Incorporation provides for major policy issues to be determined by the General Assembly (the annual meeting of all members), while implementation of General Assembly directions and day-to-day management rests with the ICC Bureau (a representative group of 16 members chosen by region).

The ICC Chair, Ms Jennifer Lynch congratulated members on the approval of the statute and said that the resolution of these fundamental issues provided a strong foundation for the ongoing structural integrity and financial sustainability of the ICC.

The developments were also welcomed by the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights who congratulated members on the concrete steps taken to make ICC a more mature institution and to secure its incorporation as a legal entity under Swiss law.

NHRI participation in the Commission on the Status of Women

Ms. Catherine Branson, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, provided a report on NHRI efforts to advocate for independent participation rights at the UN Commission on the Status for Women – a proposal by the APF which was endorsed by the ICC at its previous meeting in October 2008.

The APF and NHRIs of Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines attended the 53rd session of the CSW, held in New York in March, which resulted in significant positive momentum on the issue, including statements of support from a number of governments, a statement by the CEDAW Chairperson and a reference to NHRIs in the ‘Agreed Conclusions’ of the CSW meeting.

Ms. Branson presented seven recommendations, included in the APF report on the CSW 53 meeting, which set out practical ways that the ICC, regional coordinating bodies and individual NHRIs could continue to promote the importance of NHRI participation in CSW meetings and processes.

It was also recommended that the APF should continue to coordinate these advocacy efforts.

Sub-Committee on Accreditation

At its November 2008 session, the ICC’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation developed three General Observations on ‘annual, special or thematic reports’, ‘administrative regulation and independence’ and ‘annual reports’.

These General Observations, which aim to provide guidance to NHRIs in developing their own processes and mechanisms, were presented to delegates at ICC 22. 

In his report, Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, Chair of the Sub-Committee, highlighted the fact that regional NHRI coordinating bodies are now invited to attend accreditation sessions as observers and noted the positive experience of the APF’s participation at the November 2008 session.

Following ICC 22, the Sub-Committee met to consider 10 applications from NHRIs for initial accreditation or to review existing accreditation. Four NHRIs were members of the APF: Sri Lanka, Qatar, Palestine and Malaysia. Decisions are expected to be made public in late May 2009.

Durban Review Conference

An ICC Working Group, co-chaired by the NHRIs of Korea and South Africa, was established in October 2008 to support and coordinate the participation of NHRIs in the Durban Review Conference.

The major UN conference, held in late April, aims to review progress and challenges in the fight against racism and racial discrimination, following the earlier global meeting in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.

Mr. Anselmo Lee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea said that about 40 NHRIs would be engaged in the Durban Review Conference.

The Working Group also developed an ICC strategy and action plan in preparation for the Conference.