Role of national human rights institutions in facilitating access to remedy: Different pathways 

30 November 2021 – 11:45 – 13:00 (CET)   /   Online

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This session organised by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) will take place in the context of the 10^th Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights (29 November- 01 December).

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) play a critical role in protecting and promoting human rights, including in the business and human rights context. The UN Working Group on Business and Rights in its June 2021 report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/47/39/Add.3) articulated different pathways – direct, indirect, and foundational – available for NHRIs to facilitate access to remedy for business-related human rights abuses. The session will try to match the “on paper” recommendations contained in this report with “practice” on the ground, especially in times of challenges posed by COVID-19. In particular, it will focus on NHRIs’ practices regarding collaboration with other judicial and non-judicial remedy mechanisms, cooperation amongst NHRIs in cross-border and transnational cases, and protection of civil society organisations and human rights defenders. The session will also look at the role that UN agencies and/or other organisations such as the GANHRI, regional networks of NHRIs, the UNDP and the OHCHR could play in strengthening the capacity of NHRIs in implementing the recommendations contained in the report.

Key objectives of the session

• To illustrate – through good practices, measures, and tools – the ways in which NHRIs are already facilitating, or could facilitate, access to remedy for business-related human rights abuses in line with the recommendations of the Working Group;
• To highlight the challenges and limitations that NHRIs face in meeting facilitating access to remedy in direct, indirect, and foundational ways and explore how those challenges could be overcome;
• To discuss the role that various UN agencies and/or other organisations to play in strengthening the capacity of NHRIs in the business and human rights field.

Key questions 

• How are NHRIs facilitating access to remedy for business-related human rights abuses in direct, indirect, and foundational ways?
• What are the innovative practices adopted by NHRIs to collaborate with other judicial and non-judicial remedy mechanisms, cooperate with peer NHRIs in cross-border and transnational cases, and protect civil society organisations and human rights defenders?
• What are the main challenges and limitations faced by NHRIs in facilitating access to remedy? How could be these challenges be overcome, especially by actions taken by States and UN agencies?
• What practical tools have been developed by UN agencies or other organisations such as GANHRI, regional networks of NHRIs, OHCHR and UNDP to strengthen the capacity of NHRIs to fulfil their mandates in relation to business and human rights issues?

Moderator: Ms Amina Bouayach, Chairperson, National Human Rights Council of Morocco

Speakers: