International Commission of Jurists
High level discussion on advancing human rights and business in the Human Rights Council

High level discussion on advancing human rights and business in the Human Rights Council

Jun 21, 2012 | Events

On 21 June 2012 the ICJ held a parallel event on advancing business and human rights in the Human Rights Council. The summary note of this event can be found here.The panel was moderated by Professor Marco Sassoli and included Professor Andrew Clapham, Dr. Michael Addo, Ms Harriet Berg and Ms Rachel Groux-Nurnberg, as speakers.

The event was convened in order to provide delegations and civil society with a forum to explore ways for further enhancing international standards within the Human Rights Council on the issue of businesses’ human rights responsibilities.

Over 50 participants, including representatives from affected communities, civil society, international organisations and members of the diplomatic community in Geneva attended.

ICJ-HRC20-Summary Note of Parallel Event on Business and HR-event-2012

ICJ supports independence and strengthening of the Special Procedures

ICJ supports independence and strengthening of the Special Procedures

Jun 14, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions

The ICJ, together with 21 other nongovernmental organisations, today participated in the 19th Annual Meeting of the Human Rights Council Special Procedures. 

Following up on a joint NGO statement from the 18th Annual Meeting of the Special Procedures in 2011, the group of NGOs welcomed recent positive developments and raised certain issues for particular attention and discussion regarding the work and functioning of the Special Procedures.

HRC-SpecialProcedures-NGOJointLetter-non-legal submission (2012) (download joint letter in PDF)

ICJ-SP-AM19-OralStatement-non-legal submission (2012) (download ICJ oral statement in PDF)

Advancing human rights and business in the work of the Human Rights Council

Advancing human rights and business in the work of the Human Rights Council

Jun 13, 2012 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions

The ICJ recalls the three main issues proposed by a number of civil society organizations as priorities for the Working Group. These priority issues are: (1) to explore the further development of international standards; (2) to improve access to remedies, and in particular access to justice for victims of human rights abuses; and (3) to address the impact of business on indigenous people and other vulnerable groups.

The ICJ urges the Human Rights Council and the Working Group to:

  • pay special attention to the need for State regulation of corporations and other business enterprises;
  • pay special attention to the need to ensure access to justice and effective remedies and reparations to victims;
  • ensure its activities do not foreclose the elaboration of further international standards and;
  • take fully into account the Maastricht Principles in their work.

Human Rights Council-20th session-non-legal submission-2012 (full text, PDF)

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