DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
Fourteenth NGO Forum on Human Rights
Business and Human Rights - Implementing the UN Guiding Principles
Friday, 7th November 2014
Conference Centre, Dublin Castle
Dame St. Dublin 2
The programme for this year’s forum is now available.
What is the purpose of the 14th DFAT NGO Forum on Human Rights?
The DFAT NGO Forum on Human Rights is an opportunity for civil society and others committed to promoting and protecting human rights in Ireland and internationally to engage with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and exchange information and views on human rights issues.
The objective of the Forum is to spark debate on topical human rights issues. The audience will consist of 250-300 invitees, including NGOs and civil society representatives, business representatives and others.
This year’s Forum, the 14th, will focus on the theme of “Business and Human Rights” and, specifically, on the implementation of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Government of Ireland decided on 24 June 2014 that Ireland would develop a national plan for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles.
The Forum is the first step in the process of the development of a national action plan for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, which will be led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The objective is to present the opportunity for business and civil society to set out their views on business and human rights, both in the broad sense and also with a view to helping to develop a national plan. In the longer term, the process should lead to a balance between differing viewpoints on the nature of the approach. Ideally, the final product should be a national plan that will encompass a measured, step by step approach. Speakers and contributors from the floor are strongly encouraged to express their ideas and draw on their experience regarding both the process moving forward and the content of the national action plan.