The PRI is attending the 13th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights (25-27 November) in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Read on for an overview of our objectives and relevant events. Please also let us know if you plan to attend the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (UNBHR) by filling in this form. Completing this will help us support our signatories with relevant information on networking and collaboration opportunities. 

What is the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights?

The UNBHR is one of the flagship UN-convened events on human rights and is centred on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This year’s focus is the “smart mix of measures” (national, international, voluntary and mandatory) and will discuss key trends, offer an opportunity to reflect on what has worked and not worked, and explore what this means for the future. 

PRI’s work on human rights and social issues is rooted in the UNGPs, which were formally and unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. Our paper: Why and how investors should act on human rights articulates the responsibilities of institutional investors to respect the human rights of all, as defined by the UNGPs. The UNBHR is a pivotal event, offering the PRI a valuable platform to engage our signatories and key stakeholders, facilitate discussions on advancing the implementation of the UNGPs and strengthen investor action on human rights. 

What is the PRI hoping to achieve at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights?

The PRI calls on responsible investors to scale up their action on human rights to manage associated risks and impacts and fulfil their fiduciary duties.  

To achieve the “smart mix of measures”, investors must implement mandatory human rights due diligence across all investments and enable access to remedy more extensively. In addition to this, investors can engage with policy makers to nurture an environment that enables rights-respecting investment.  

The PRI has highlighted that human rights and social issues are becoming increasingly important to investors, with over 1000 signatories already adopting the UNGPs and / or the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD Guidelines) in line with their responsibility to respect human rights. However, increased adoption of these frameworks must be complemented by more comprehensive implementation, as only a minority of PRI signatories indicate they provide access to remedy.   

To build on this momentum, the PRI aims to achieve three key objectives at the UNBHR: 

  1. Convene investors to promote the continued adoption and implementation of the UNGPs and OECD Guidelines in responsible investment.
  2. Engage with stakeholders to reaffirm the materiality of human rights at both an entity and systemic level.
  3. Facilitate policy discussions that strengthen the enabling environment for the integration of human rights into responsible investment. 

For insights into signatory progress on human rights, we encourage you to read our report analysing the 2023 reporting findings.  

The PRI delegation will consist of members from our Human Rights, Social and Governance, Advance, and Global Policy teams.  

Download an overview of PRI at the UN Forum on Business and Human RIghts 

UN Business and Human Rights_Brochure_cover

 

Events to look out for at UNBHR

This section includes details of key events and will be updated on a regular basis. 

  • Networking hub: Financial Institutions 

    25 November, 1:20-2:40pm CET  
    Location: Room XIX, Palais des Nations 

    The aim of this space is to facilitate a collaborative peer learning space for investors, promoting direct engagement with one another and fostering meaningful dialogue. This session will focus on exploring responsible investment practices and their impact on human rights. 

     

  • A smart mix of measures to leverage the contribution of financial actors to a just transition

    25 November, 3-4.20pm CET 
    Location: Room XIX, Palais des Nations

    Co-organisers: The Working Group on business and human rights, the Investor Alliance for Human Rights and PRI 

    In a complex landscape, a smart mix of both good guidance and targeted regulation plays a role in maximising the leverage of financial actors to contribute to a just transition. With a focus on renewable energy, and critical energy transition minerals, the panel will discuss key recommendations around how a smart mix of measures, both on sustainable finance and for the real economy, can be implemented to ensure effective policy and finance sector action towards the just transition. 

     

  • Peace Finance “Show & Tell” 

    26 November, 6.30-8:30pm (45 minutes presentations + 45 minutes apéro / networking) CET
    Location: Maison de la Paix (5 min walk from Palais des Nations) 

    Co-organisers: The Graduate Institute and Sustainable Finance Geneva 

    While peace finance is a new and growing topic, there are already a range of actors thinking about how to incorporate conflict risk into their investment approach and how to contribute to peace through their investments. The “Show & Tell” will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about 6-8 initiatives in the field in a brief, engaging format. The event will connect actors interested in the topic, raise awareness, and promote the exploration of synergies and collaboration. 

    Register to attend  

     

  • PRI - UNEP-FI co-convened side event on human rights due diligence for banking and investors

    27 November, 1.20-2.20pm
    Location: Room XXVII, Palais des Nations

    Co-organisers: UNEP-FI and PRI 

    Taking stock of the UN Forum of Business & Human Rights so far, this session will look at key takeaways from the Forum and examine how signatories can advance progress on implementation of the UNGPs. This session will focus on UNEP-FI’s recent guidance on human rights due diligence, providing a high-level overview of the guidance followed by an interactive discussion between banks and investors. 

    Please reach out to [email protected]  to confirm attendance. 

     

  • BHR informal Dialogues: Responsible Investment 

    27 November, 9-9.40am CET 
    Location: Room XIX, Palais des Nations 

    This session will create an open, flexible environment for stakeholders to exchange insights, experiences, and best practices, with a focus on assessing how investments impact human rights and business practices. 

     

 

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