The annual Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum in the Asia-Pacific met last 1 to 4 June 2021 to address serious concerns about the course of social justice and development priorities. The virtual event followed UNDP-programmed side events of 28 and 31 May 2021.

On the first day, Regional Heads from eight UN organisations released a joint video statement calling for the “principled collaboration of business and the international community,” to address growing gaps in social justice, public health and environmental progress.

The UN leaders urged delegates at this year’s Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum to take “tangible, meaningful steps” on responsible business practices, women’s empowerment, protection of migrants’ rights, climate action, human rights due diligence and the use of data in the monitoring of international standards on labour and the environment. 

“Let us commit to action for an economic development that is inclusive and safeguards our environment,” they said.

The Forum commemorated the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights (BHR) – considered a foundational guide to global human rights standards for business. 

Over 46 scheduled panel sessions featuring more than 200 experts assessed progress and responses to BHR challenges, including eradicating the worst forms of child labour, eliminating violence and harassment in supply chains, and ensuring women’s empowerment to create more inclusive value chains.  

The event took place as many nations in the Asia Pacific region continued to grapple with the serious public health and economic consequences of a damaging phase in the pandemic. Participants also reflected on the impact of COVID-19 on global progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

While the pandemic has highlighted pre-existing protection gaps, the Forum also examined a wider context of issues relating to responsible business, including climate change and environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, rising inequality, shrinking civic space and lack of accountability.  The need for structural and systemic change to realize sustainable development for all has become increasingly urgent.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Forum was again held virtually, gathering participants this year on Estonian tech Worksup’s internet platform (an alternative to last year’s Forum platform Zoom). More than 2,000 delegates from governments, business, civil society organizations, and workers’ groups signed up for the event.

Hosts of the UN Responsible Business and Human Right Forum included the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (UNWG).

The event was sponsored by the European Union (EU) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

For more information, visit www.rbhrforum.com.