Regional Business and Human Rights Forums and Dialogues

Regional Business and Human Rights Forums and Dialogues

To promote collective stakeholder action for advancing the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), UNDP and its partners convene regional forums and dialogues.

Regional forums and dialogues on business and human rights are informed by outcomes of national forums and dialogues convened by UNDP and its partners at the country level.

Insights and recommendations generated during regional forums and dialogues on business and human rights contribute to region-specific sessions at the UN Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights.

OBJECTIVES

Raise awareness of governments’ duties and businesses’ responsibilities under the UNGPs
Raise awareness of global and regional trends in the implementation of the UNGPs, including on business and human rights regulatory measures and their potential regional impacts
Take stock of the progress, challenges, and opportunities for advancing the implementation of the UNGPs across the region and generate recommendations for its acceleration
Promote policy coherence on responsible business practices at national and regional levels
Establish a multi-stakeholder network to facilitate South-South and North-South exchanges, peer learning, and collaboration on business and human rights
Provide a safe space for affected rights holders to voice concerns about the adverse impacts of irresponsible business practices on their rights and to participate in policy making
Promote UNDP global and regional knowledge products and practical tools on business and human rights, such as the Human Rights Due Diligence Facilitation Guide, Guide for Business on Heightened Human Rights Due Diligence in Conflict-Affected Contexts, Routes to Remedy Toolkit for Human Rights Defenders, and Practical Tool on Human Rights Due Diligence.

Explore information on upcoming regional forums and dialogues by region.

AFRICA

African Business and Human Rights Forum

4th African Business and Human Rights Forum

Dates: 7-9 October 2025

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Co-organizers: UNDP, African Union, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, OHCHR, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, UNICEF, UN Global Compact

Forum website: www.bhrafricaforum.org

ARAB STATES