The Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights was established by the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other enterprises in 2013. Hosted at the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, the Forum was created to:
“discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles [on Business and Human Rights] and promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights, including challenges faced in particular sectors, operational environments or in relation to specific rights or groups, as well as identifying good practices.”
LAMMP regularly participates at the Forum with a view to influence policy developments in the framework of business and human rights, and to raise the profile of rural and indigenous women from Latin America who have suffered from extreme hardship and struggles as a result of irresponsible practices in the oil, gas and energy and other development sectors. Bringing forward cases of the lack of corporate accountability, environmental degradation and criminalisation, the Forum is a unique opportunity to reveal a “human face” as part of these advocacy efforts.
For LAMMP, only a legally binding instruments on business and human rights can effectively hold States and companies accountable for business-led human rights violations, with particular concern for distinct and specific gender dimensions. A mandatory regulation would also help prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts in this context, ensuring provision of remedy to victims and those negatively affected by large-scale mining and development projects.
LAMMP Reports from past UN Forum are available here: