Presidency Conference on Business and Human rights - Montesquieu Institute

On 7-8 May 2012, high-level representatives and experts from EU Member States, international institutions, businesses, civil society and academia have been invited by the Danish EU Presidency to discuss how the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights adopted by the UN last year can be put into practice. The Danish Government will be represented by the Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn, the Minister for Trade and Investments, Ms Pia Olsen Dyhr and Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Christian Friis Bach.

The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

In June 2008, a Policy Framework for Business and Human Rights was adopted by the UN. In June 2011, the UN adopted the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights providing principles for implementation of the 2008 Framework. This marked the successful culmination of many years of hard work under the dedicated leadership of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Prof. John Ruggie. However, the principles will remain declarations of good intent unless proper and targeted implementation efforts are undertaken.

The EU Policy on Corporate Social Responsibility

The EU strategy for Corporate Social Responsibility (2011-14) commits the European Commission to publish a report on EU priorities for implementation of the Guiding Principles by the end of 2012. The Commission also invites Member States to develop national plans for the implementation of the Guiding Principles and expects European enterprises to address corporate human rights responsibility as defined by the Guiding Principles by the end of 2012.

The Objective of the Conference

With the view to turn the Guiding Principles into practice for the EU and its Member States, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Business and Growth of Denmark have jointly organised the Conference on Business and Human Rights with the objective of providing recommendations for the European Commission on how to implement the Guiding Principles and for EU Member States on how to develop national plans for UNGP implementation. The Conference takes a business perspective on the challenges of implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The conference is by invitation only.

Contact:

Charlotte Kjeldsen, Danish Business Authority under the Ministry of Business and Growth

Phone: +45 33 30 77 00, e-mail: chakje@erst.dk

Marie Wibe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Phone: +45 41 86 59 15, e-mail: marwib@um.dk

Conference Venue:

First Hotel Copenhagen

Molestien 11

DK-2450 Copenhagen SV

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