13th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights

The newly introduced BHR Informal Dialogues will offer an open, dynamic platform for inclusive and in-depth discussions on critical issues within the Business and Human Rights (BHR) agenda. These sessions are structured to encourage autonomous, participant-led conversations without formal speakers or panelists, fostering a free-flowing exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives. The aim is to create a collaborative space where all participants can directly engage with one another, enabling meaningful dialogue that promotes deeper understanding of key issues.

By encouraging active participation from all participants, the BHR Informal Dialogues seek to ensure that a broad range of voices contribute to shaping the future of business and human rights practices. This format prioritizes diversity of views and backgrounds, creating a space where different stakeholders can share insights, experiences, and best practices in a flexible and open environment. 
There will be no interpretation provided.

This informal and interactive space is open to everyone and is designed to spark collaborative thinking, drive solution-oriented discussions, and contribute to advancing the global BHR agenda.
Each Interactive dialogue will be facilitated by one or two people to ensure effective and inclusive dialogue. The facilitators will guide the discussion, assist in maintaining a balanced conversation, and ensure that all voices are heard. This structure will help both facilitators and participants to ensure a free-flowing exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives.
Topics for Discussion: The BHR Informal Dialogues will focus on a range of pressing topics, including:

• Intergenerational Exchange on BHR: Promoting dialogue between different generations on the evolving BHR landscape and priorities.

Guiding questions:

1. What is the most pressing challenge for the business and human rights agenda today? Do you feel that your generation has a strong voice in relation to the key issues?
2. Are you optimistic/pessimistic that mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (mHRDD) could address some of the biggest challenges? Where does your optimism/pessimism come from?
3. How much confidence do you have in businesses to take meaningful action on respecting human rights? Has this changed throughout your career to date? Do you think that businesses know how to properly engage with different generations as part of taking meaningful action?
4. What do you think should be the top priority for governments around the world over the next five years? What do you think needs to change to make UNGPs implementation a success from a practical perspective?

 

 
Session organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights 
 
Brief description of the session: 

The Working Group on Business and Human Rights will present a report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025. The report will seek to identify current strategies, policies, and practices, and remaining gaps and challenges to address adverse human rights impacts linked to the procurement and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by States and non-tech businesses.

The report aims to clarify the respective duty and responsibility of States and non-tech businesses to protect and respect human rights, as well as the roles of other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, human rights defenders, academia, trade unions and national human rights institutions, in the context of the evolving landscape of AI procurement and deployment. As the report focuses on the procurement and deployment of AI systems by States and non tech business enterprises, therefore it does not cover issues related States developing and deploying their own AI systems, and related to tech business enterprises developing and deploying AI systems.
It seeks to explore the following items:
- How States can further enhance efforts to safeguard human rights when procuring and deploying AI systems;
- How non-tech businesses can further incorporate human rights focus in their deployment of AI in their business operations, products and services, including though comprehensive and robust human rights due diligence processes;
- What grievance mechanisms exist for rightsholders that have been affected by AI procured by States or businesses, and how they can be strengthened; and
- The essential role of human rights defenders to support States and businesses in identifying human rights risks and preventing harm in this context.

Key objectives of the session:

• Identify key issues, actors, practices and trends that should be covered in the Working Group’s report to the Human Rights Council;
• Highlight promising policies, frameworks or regulations at the national, regional and international levels to address the human rights risks linked to the procurement and deployment of AI by States and non tech-businesses;
• Share emerging practices of non-tech business in including human rights impacts related to the procurement and deployment of AI systems in their human rights due diligence;
• Highlight key issues and challenges that are faced by CSOs, human rights defenders and workers in the context of AI systems deployed by States and non-tech businesses;
• Discuss what effective remedies are available for those whose human rights are adversely affected by AI applications used by States and non tech businesses .

Background of the discussion:

• Call for Inputs to inform the Working Group's report
• Advancing responsible development and deployment of generative AI, OHCHR ( Btech) project, 2023
• Taxonomy of Human Rights Risks connected to Generative AI, OHCHR (Btech project), 2023
• Mapping report: Human Rights and new and emerging digital technologies, OHCHR, 2024
• Recommendation on the ethics of Artificial intelligence, UNESCO 2021 and its Ethical impact Assessment, 2023
• G7 Toolkit for AI in the public sector, OECD and UNESCO, 2024
• Artificial intelligence and Human Rights, UN Global Compact Germany, 2024
• European Union AI Act, 2023
• The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Council of Europe, 2024

Session co-organized by the Working Group on business and human rights, ILGA World and PGLE


Brief Description of the Session:
LGBTI+ persons are disproportionately affected by business activities, facing discrimination and violence that impact their rights to equality and non-discrimination and lead to compounding violations of other human rights. Discrimination and attacks occur in various forms, including harassment in the workplace, stigmatization on social media, biased representation in advertising, and exclusion in sports. These risks are exacerbated by intersectional discrimination involving factors such as race, ethnicity, disability, age, migratory status, and more. Hostile cultural, social, and legal environments further restrict the corporate respect for human rights of LGBTI+ persons.

This session will explore different measures implemented by States, businesses and other stakeholders to address gaps in protecting and respecting the rights of LGBTI+ persons in the context of business activities. Drawing on the recent report to the General Assembly by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, titled “Protecting and respecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the context of business activities: fulfilling obligations and responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, the session aims to identify effective strategies and share good practices in this field by fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders.

Key Specific Objectives of the Session:
· Identify the key challenges for the respect of LGBTI+ rights in the context of business activities.
· Discuss the "smart mix of measures" necessary from States to adequately protect the rights of LGBTI+ persons against business abuses, highlighting emerging regulatory initiatives, policies and adjudications at the national, regional, and international levels.
· Exchange on business actions to prevent and redress human rights abuses against LGBTI+ persons in the workplace, marketplace, supply chain and communities where they operate, including when operating in jurisdictions that criminalize consensual same sex relationships.
· Explore how meaningful engagement with LGBTI+ persons, organisations defending LGBTI+ rights, and trade unions can be fostered to enhance the respect of the rights of LGBTI+ persons.
· Promote collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, businesses, civil society, and LGBTI+ persons.

Key Discussion Questions:
1. What are the most pressing challenges faced by LGBTI+ persons in the context of business activities?
2. What measures should States take to include consideration on LGBTI+ persons in NAP, mandatory human rights due diligence and to repel or amend any regulations that would hamper business respect of the rights of LGBTI+ persons?
3. How does policy coherence look like with regards to guaranteeing the rights of all in the context of business activities?
4. How could the UN Standards of Conduct for Business in Tackling Discrimination Against LGBTI People be effectively implemented to guide businesses in progressing beyond merely respecting the rights of their LGBTI employees in countries with established legal protections, to actively promoting and defending these rights in regions where such protections are limited or non-existent?
5. How could businesses address backlashes and legal risks when respecting the rights of LGBTI+ persons in their operations and value chains?
6. How can State-based judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, as well as operational-level grievance mechanisms be strengthened to address rights violations against LGBTI+ persons?
7. What role can stakeholders play in fostering collaboration and sharing good practices to advance LGBTI+ rights in the business sector?

Background reading:
· Protecting and respecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the context of business activities: fulfilling obligations and responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights –Working Group report A/79/178
· UN Standards of Conduct for Business Tackling Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Intersex People, · Gender Dimensions of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights – Working Group report A/HRC/41/43

The Networking Hubs will provide an open platform designed to facilitate exchanges among diverse groups of stakeholders on the Business and Human Rights (BHR) agenda. These spaces are structured to encourage autonomous, participant-led conversations without formal speakers or panelists, fostering a free-flowing exchange of experiences and perspectives. The aim is to create a collaborative peer learning space within stakeholders, where each stakeholder group can directly engage with one another, fostering meaningful dialogue. 

The format of these spaces leverages the networking essence of the Forum, offering a flexible and open environment for different stakeholder groups to share best practices, challenges, and innovative proposals.  

Stakeholder groups: The Networking Hubs will focus on a range of pressing topics, including: 

• Government Representatives: Discussing the role of public policy, regulation, and enforcement in promoting BHR.  

No interpretation will be provided. 

Session co-organized by the Working Group on business and human rights and Ubuntu Development Network.

Interpretation available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic

(Version française ci-jointe)
(Versión en español adjunta) 

Brief description of the session: 
This session aims to assess the role of youth-driven initiatives in bringing about real transformations through a smart mix of business and human rights measures. It will serve as a critical platform for sharing stories and examples of positive change related to business and human rights spearheaded by youth, assessing the effectiveness of these changes, especially for rights-holders, and identifying ongoing challenges. Additionally, the session will address various focused issues such as climate change and gender. Emerging and other systemic issues confronting the youth in the business and human rights agenda will also be discussed, linking the discussion to the overarching theme of transforming commitments into tangible change through youth-driven initiatives.  

Key objectives of the session: 

• Discuss how to empower youth in understanding and actively participating in the global business and human rights discourse by addressing barriers to comprehensive knowledge acquisition and presenting practical opportunities for engagement.  
• Highlight youth perspectives and practices in responsible consumerism, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, showcasing successful youth-driven business models. 
• Discuss strategies to amplify youth voices and foster collaboration for effective change in responsible business conduct. 

Key discussion questions: 

• As young people, what challenges and opportunities have you faced with regard to advancing the business and human rights agenda, including any barriers to business and human rights knowledge? 
• How have responsible business models and strategies driven by youth helped to foster awareness, engagement, and collaboration in BHR policy development and practice? 
• What strategies can amplify youth voices and participation as levers of effective change in advancing responsible business conduct across different communities, regions, and sectors? 

 
Additional background documents: 

• OHCHR Reports on youth and human rights, including report on youth and the right to work (A/HRC/40/31)  
• OHCHR, Human rights of youth 

Interpretation available in Arabic, Chinese, Russian, English, French, and Spanish. 

This session draws the 2024 annual Forum on Business and Human Rights to a close. The aim of the session is to reflect on the Forum’s theme ‘Realizing the "Smart Mix of Measures" to protect human rights in the context of business activitties’. It will do so by considering the roles which each stakeholder plays in ensuring the effective implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and promoting respect for human rights in business activities. It will also be an opportunity to review what has been heard during the Forum, highlight key messages and priority actions, and offer ideas for the ways forward.


Key objectives:

• Reflect on the Forum’s theme of ‘Realizing the “Smart Mix of Measures” to protect human rights in the context of business activities’;
• Analyse how different stakeholders can act to ensure the effective implementation of the UNGPs and promote respect for human rights in business activities;
• Identify key opportunities and major obstacles for moving forward to make effective change; and
• Share positive practical examples of actions taken, including those that have been featured during the UN Forum.

Format:
The plenary session will consist of a segment of high-level opening remarks, followed by a high-level dialogue featuring the reflections of stakeholders from different stakeholder groups and regions.