The inaugural dialogue on Business and Human Rights in Arab Region concluded today. The event was organized by the National Human Rights Committee, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and UNICEF. The event was held under the theme “Charting the Course for Responsible Business Practices in the Arab Region.” HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, Chair of the National Human Rights Committee and Chair of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, said that participants gathered in Doha for an open dialogue over two days, hoping to reach the best practices that combine human rights with the interests of businesses, in one of the sectors that impact millions across the Arab world. Her Excellency thanked everyone who contributed to th
e success of this event, during which they worked to diagnose challenges and reach the best solutions and visions to overcome them. Her Excellency noted that the recommendations and proposals put forward will help to enhance and protect human rights in the context of business, ensuring that everyone plays their part toward a future where human beings enjoy a dignified and secure life.
Several recommendations were made by participants at the conclusion of the dialogue, which were read by HE Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, as follows: – Emphasizing the progress made and ongoing efforts to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by states and companies in the Arab region.
– Commending the initiatives led by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, through the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labor, to promote the principles of business and human rights in areas related to labor markets.
– Acknowledging the
remaining challenges that states and companies in the Arab region face in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities to prevent and address human rights violations related to business, and stressing the need to intensify efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
– Reaffirming the commitment to strengthen efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the Arab region.
– Agreeing to prioritize enhancing the capacity of governments, businesses, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders in the Arab region to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and affirming the important role that the United Nations plays in this regard.
– Highlighting the importance of continuing multilateral dialogue on business and human rights in the Arab region.
– Encouraging governments in the Arab region to strengthen efforts to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,
especially through: – Conducting national baseline assessments and developing international government action plans on business and human rights, with the involvement of diverse stakeholders from the business sector, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, and others.
– Considering the implementation of the “State’s Duty to Protect,” as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in submissions to the Universal Periodic Review.
– Fully cooperating with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights to fulfill its mandate, including responding positively to its requests for country visits.
– Strengthening national frameworks for reporting business-related human rights violations, especially those concerning women, migrant workers, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.
– Encouraging companies to conduct human rights due diligence and commit to ongoing national participatory dialogues on business and human rights issues.
– Supporting the states capacity-
building in providing judicial and non-judicial remedies for victims of violations by companies operating on its territory or companies operating abroad.
– Encouraging companies in the Arab region to meet their responsibilities to respect all human rights under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other applicable standards, particularly by: – Continuously implementing all four components of human rights due diligence, ensuring the preparation of accurate and comprehensive reports.
– Engaging meaningfully with rights-holders and affected communities, prioritizing those in the most vulnerable and marginalized positions, during human rights due diligence.
– Acting in good faith in national judicial and non-judicial processes and establishing effective operational-level grievance mechanisms to facilitate the early resolution of complaints.
– Encouraging civil society organizations and national human rights institutions to support states and companies in the Arab region in fulfilling the
ir duties and responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, particularly by: – Conducting research on the status of business and human rights at regional, national, and subnational levels.
– Actively participating in state-led processes to conduct national baseline assessments and develop national action plans on business and human rights, advocating for alignment with the UN Guiding Principles.
– Providing accessible and effective complaint mechanisms for victims of business-related human rights violations.
– Raising awareness of business and human rights among rights-holders and communities, prioritizing the most vulnerable and marginalized, including through leadership within regional networks like the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions.
– Organizing the second dialogue on business and human rights in the Arab region in 2025
Source: Qatar News Agency
