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2nd UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights

Virtual  |   17-19 March 2021

Identifying roadmaps for action on business and human rights in South Asia

The second UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights was held virtually 17-19 March 2021. With 1,500 attendees, the sessions covered a wide range of issues, including as universal and equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution, gender bias in new technologies, the rights of migrant workers, and the impact of foreign legislation on mandatory human rights due diligence in South Asia.

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Country-focused sessions assessed the state of business and human rights in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and resulted in national roadmaps for promoting business and human rights.

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The Forum also hosted safe spaces for closed door discussions among civil society organizations, businesses, trade unions and national human rights institutions.

Browse recordings of the sessions from the 2021 forum below, or click here.

South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights 2021

South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights 2021

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LIST OF SESSIONS

Main plenary sessions

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  • Opening plenary: The Progress So Far and the Impact of COVID-19

  • Addressing Gender Bias in New Technologies

  • Business and Human Rights in the Textile and Garment Sector during COVID-19

  • Eliminating Gender-based Violence and Harassment: ILO 190

  • Government Policy Commitments and National Action Plans in South Asia

  • How Not To Conduct Human Rights Due Diligence

  • Human Rights Impacts of Social Media

  • International Investment Agreements, Human Rights and Sustainable Development

  • Leave No Worker Behind - Towards Due Diligence for Homeworkers in Textile and Leather Supply Chains

  • Occupational Health and Safety

  • Preparing For the Era of Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence

  • Rajasthan Natural Stone Industry

  • Regional Response to Elimination of Child Labor

  • Rethinking Non-Judicial Remedies in South Asia

  • Role of Benchmarking in Influencing Corporate Action on Human Rights

  • Tackling the Informal Economy and MSMEs

  • The Need for an effective Non-Judicial Grievance Mechanism: Showcasing Examples

  • The Next Decade of Action: Connecting Sustainable Development and Business and Human Rights

  • The Significance of Business and Human Rights Efforts to Focus on Migrant Workers in India

  • What Do 'Family-Friendly Policies' Mean in South Asia? Extending Policies to Protect the Workforce

  • Closing plenary: A Roadmap for South Asia

Country sessions

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  • Country in Focus: Bangladesh

  • Country in Focus: India

  • Country in Focus: Nepal

  • Country in Focus: Pakistan

  • Country in Focus: Sri Lanka

Side sessions

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  • Child Labor in the Informal Segments of the Supply Chain – Challenges and Way Forward for Businesses

  • Defending Defenders and Safeguarding Civic Space

  • Extractives and Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • Human Rights Impacts of Plastic in the South Asian subregion

  • Improving Business and Human Rights in Transboundary River Basins in South Asia

  • Introduction to the UNGPs and the ILO MNE Declaration

  • Not Charity, But Rights: Universal and Equitable Access to Covid-19 Vaccines

  • Strengthening Access to Judicial Remedies for Corporate Human Rights Abuses in South Asia

  • Taking the Climate Crisis Seriously

  • The Role of Business in Promoting Fair Recruitment of Migrant Workers in South Asia

  • Women’s Empowerment: A Business Imperative

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