HRC53 - Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises - EU Statement
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
53rd session
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
27 June 2023
EU Intervention
Mr President,
The European Union would like to thank the Working Group for presenting the report[1] and reiterate our full support to this mandate.
The report emphasises that capacity-building measures must be based on high-quality, authorative guidance, in order to support the coherence of the UNGPs.
To that end, the report identifies ways to build and strengthen coherent and effective capacity in the area of business and human rights.
As the report underlines, common understanding should ensure common implementation. Enhancing policy coordination and coherence for UN actions in all relevant areas and levels should be a priority, including through support for the implementation of the Guiding principles across the UN system The role of civil society and National Human Rights Institutions is also important, as the report makes clear.
At the EU level, we are finalising a comprehensive EU Framework for UNGP implementation, taking the UNGP Roadmap as a reference for the next decade. This will ensure that EU actions, and those of EU Member States, remain coherent and reinforce the business and human rights agenda. We are also setting a whole range of accompanying measures to help supply chains actors and all concerned stakeholders to be familiar and prepared for the practical implications of EU mandatory due diligence requirements. This entails e-learning modules, self-assessment tools, impact assessments or databases to name a few.
One of these possible ways would be the creation of a help desk function at OHCHR [in charge of providing coherence and consistency in the interpretation of the Guiding Principles]. Could the Working Group elaborate on the means (human and financial resources) needed to run a help desk effectively and in a way that is accessible to local business actors (and rights holders)? How could an OHCHR’s knowledge hub and helpdesk ensure a consistent and coherent interpretation of the UNGPs, while avoiding duplication with relevant existing functions (e.g. UNDP and ILO BHR / MNE helpdesk), and entrenching into wider UN agendas on related areas (e.g. development, trade, labour, and telecommunication) or multilateral initiatives (e.g. Agenda 2030).
Thank you.
[1] On building capacity for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights A/HRC/53/24