Since their adoption in June 2011, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) have become the authoritative global norm and guidelines for states and companies to prevent and address negative human rights impacts caused by business activities. To meet states duty to protect human rights related to business activities, governments around the world have developed a number of regulations that recently include legislation on mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) by companies.

HRDD is the process of identifying, preventing, mitigating, and accounting for how companies address their impacts on human rights. It applies not only to the company’s own activities but also to those of its subsidiaries and supply chains worldwide. At present, the European Union (EU) is considering legislation on mandatory HRDD that is expected to be issued in 2011. France has issued French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law that requires companies to establish, publish and implement a vigilance plan (that includes human rights due diligence aspects) while the Netherlands has issued Child Labour Due Diligence Act.

In this regard, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST) are organizing a dialogue on the current progress of mandatory HRDD legislation, the key changes for businesses to anticipate, and how respect for human rights can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. The dialogue will be held on:

Day, Date       : Friday, 19 February 2021

Time               : 14.00 – 16.00 WIB

Venue             : Zoom Webinar, register at bit.ly/mHRDDforSDGs

In the first session, the representatives of the embassies, European Union, and ECCJ will elaborate on the content of the existing and proposed mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). Subsequently, panelists from companies will share their good practices in respect for human rights including HRDD policy and practices, and their contribution to SDGs.