The UN Forum on Business and Human Rights is the global platform for yearly stock-taking and lesson-sharing on efforts to move the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rightsfrom paper to practice. As the world’s largest gathering on the topic of business and human rights, it provides a unique space for dialogue on major human rights issues in the global economy.

The Forum brings together more than 2,000 participants from government, business, community groups, non-governmental organizations, law firms, investor organisations, United Nations bodies, national human rights institutions, trade unions, academia and the media. Over three days, they engage in discussions on current business-related human rights topics, sharing ideas and practice on how to better respect and protect human rights in a business context. 

The Forum was established in 2011 by the Human Rights Council (resolution17/4) to serve as a global platform to “discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles [on Business and Human Rights] and promote dialogue and cooperation on issues linked to business and human rights, including challenges faced in particular sectors, operational environments or in relation to specific rights or groups, as well as identifying good practices.”

The Forum is open to all relevant stakeholder groups, including States, the wider United Nations system, intergovernmental and regional organisations, businesses, labour unions, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, and affected stakeholders, among others.

The Forum is guided by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights and organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. As of 2017 (resolution 35/7 ), the Working Group also has a mandate to chair the Forum and to prepare a report on the proceedings and thematic recommendations of the Forum.

For information about the 2017 Forum on Business and Human Rights, click here.