Seminar with the Research Group on Business and Human Rights

On 2 June the Research Group on Human Rights and Sustainable Development organized a seminar on Business and Human Rights. The seminar sought to explore the potentials of different treaty models on business and human rights, including the approach of the alternative Framework Convention on Business and Human Rights, as well as emerging relationships and dynamics in the broader business and human rights regulatory “ecosystem.” 

 

Senior Researcher and Strategic Advisor on Human Rights and Business at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Claire Methven O’Brien, is the initiator of the proposal for an alternative Framework Convention on Business and Human Rights. Claire Methven O’Brien argued that the current draft treaty on business and human rights will for a number of reasons not succeed. Instead, she presented the details of her alternative Framework Convention on Business and Human Rights (research gate.net), which imposes a legal duty on states parties to implement the UN Framework of “protect, respect and remedy” and the UN Guiding Principles. The alternative Framework Convention introduces additional state duties such as developing procedures and guidelines, periodically reviewing and evaluating national law, policies and practices, adopting National Action Plans and other strategies as well as national, regional and global level monitoring. It would establish a Conference of States Parties to support its effective implementation through guidance and recommendations. During the seminar Claire Methven O’Brien presented the merits of such an instrument and approach.


After her presentation, Policy Director OECD National Kristel Manal Tonstad, PhD Candidate Dinie Arief (Norwegian Centre for Human Rights) and Professor Gentian Zyberi (Norwegian Centre from Human Rights) provided comments on the feasibility of the alternative Framework Convention.
 

By Kristine Røisland Hernes
Published June 8, 2021 10:37 AM - Last modified June 8, 2021 10:37 AM