STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 47th Session.
Panel discussion on the tenth anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
Statement delivered by: Mr. Jens Frølich Holte , State Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway
It is an honour to present this joint statement on behalf of a number of States that support the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The Human Rights Council’s unanimous endorsement of the Principles ten years ago was a watershed moment in our collective efforts to promote respect for human rights and more sustainable business. For the first time, UN member states came together in consensus on a normative framework that clarified the respective duties and responsibilities of states and business in preventing and addressing business-related human rights impacts.
As underlined by the Working Group’s stocktaking on the first ten years – which we welcome – the Principles offered a much-needed common framework for action and stakeholder collaboration. They provide a clear, operational standard for states and business on better ways to protect and respect human rights in the context of business activity.
The Principles have added practical value, as we have seen significant progress over the last decade. States are developing relevant laws and national action plans. Business enterprises have adopted commitments to respect human rights and undertake human rights due diligence.
Yet, we all agree a lot more is needed to ensure wide and comprehensive implementation by all States and business enterprises. Responsible business founded on respect for human rights is key for the path out of today’s COVID crisis and for achieving a sustainable future for all.
We call on all States and other stakeholders to speed up implementation of the Guiding Principles to contribute to this goal. We will continue to support efforts to achieve it, in the Council and elsewhere.
List of co-sponsors. (29.06 – 07:00)
Core group: Argentina, Ghana, Russian Federation and Norway
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Palau
- Palestine
- Paraguay
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
Reading version:
It is an honour to present this joint statement on behalf of a number of States that support the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The Human Rights Council’s unanimous endorsement of the Principles ten years ago was a watershed moment in our collective efforts to promote respect for human rights and more sustainable business. For the first time, UN member states came together in consensus on a normative framework that clarified the respective duties and responsibilities of states and business in preventing and addressing business-related human rights impacts.
As underlined by the Working Group’s stocktaking on the first ten years – which we welcome – the Principles offered a much-needed common framework for action and stakeholder collaboration.
We have seen significant progress over the last decade. States are developing relevant laws and national action plans. Business enterprises have adopted commitments to respect human rights and undertake human rights due diligence.
Yet, we all agree a lot more is needed. Responsible business founded on respect for human rights is key for the path out of today’s COVID crisis and for achieving a sustainable future for all.
We call on all States and other stakeholders to speed up implementation of the Guiding Principles to contribute to this goal. We will continue to support efforts to achieve it, in the Council and elsewhere.