The UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum is an annual platform bringing together governments, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to drive action on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and promote responsible business conduct.

Now in its 7th edition, the 2025 Forum will convene under the theme: “Anchoring Progress and Strengthening Regional Leadership on Human Rights through Crisis.”

This theme speaks to a moment of reckoning. Geopolitical tensions, growing resistance to ESG and human rights standards, and fragmented regulatory approaches are reshaping the global landscape. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region continues to grapple with deepening climate impacts, widening inequality, digital disruptions, and shrinking civic space.

In this context, regional leadership is more urgent than ever. The Forum provides a critical space to take stock of progress, align on shared priorities, and chart concrete paths forward to ensure business practices uphold human rights, even in times of crisis.

Building on the success and feedback received from the 2024 Forum, the co-organizers would like the 2025 Forum to incorporate input from those driving change across the region. That’s why we are inviting civil society, businesses and others to join us in shaping the Forum’s agenda, structure, and outcomes so that it remains grounded in lived realities and moves us toward something stronger, more equitable, and more aligned with the future we need.

To support this, we are organizing two consultations seeking input in the design of the Forum.  

Objectives

1.    Gather stakeholder feedback to inform the development of the Forum’s concept note and agenda and selection of priority themes.
2.    Facilitate the collection of input to guide the design of session structures that enable meaningful, solution-oriented dialogue across diverse stakeholders.
3.    Identify potential opportunities for collaboration

Register Here

Civil Society Consultation
28 May 2025, 1:30-3:00 ICT 
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/22YHP0wdT8CKBteePXXo9w 

Business Consultation
29 May 2025, 11:00-12:30 ICT 
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/PvkBnouKQqmCrzH8mtg9Dw 
 

Download the Consultation Briefing Note 

This process is jointly organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and theUnited Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, as part of our collective commitment to ensuring the Forum is inclusive, impactful, and grounded in regional realities.