4th UN South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights

This year, the United Nations South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights will bring attention to the workers fueling development in Asia and the role the States and businesses must play to protect and respect workers' rights. The Forum will discuss and debate the ongoing challenges and opportunities for workers in the sub-region against the backdrop of structural inequalities and power dynamics that results in differential impacts on workers. In particular, the Forum will focus on four sub-thematic issues concerning workers in South Asia, namely: (i) migration, (ii) informal and contract/gig workers; (iii) just transitions; and (iv) supply chains and legislative initiatives on business and human rights.

In addition to placing emphasis on four focus areas related to workers through thematic sessions, the Forum will continue to facilitate idea sharing and peer learning among different stakeholder groups and provide safe spaces and training to particular stakeholder groups.

The Forum is being organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (UNWG), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) from 20-22 March 2023. The Forum aims to facilitate a robust and multi-stakeholder dialogue that will foster joint action to prevent, mitigate and remediate business-related human rights and environmental abuses.