140 companies gathered this week for the annual International Human Rights Conference hosted by the International Organization of Employers (IOE), DHL Group, and the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) in Bonn, Germany. USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility Ewa Staworzynska led the discussion on April 24 in her capacity as chair of the IOE Policy Working Group on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and Responsible Business Conduct (RBC).
Staworzynska underscored that the regulations risk causing unintended consequences, such as divestment from developing countries, and may cause potential contradiction with the widely supported UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
“It is clear that companies are facing increased pressure on RBC and it is important that the business community, together with policymakers, discuss the practical implications of such regulation,” said Staworzynska.
USCIB led the discussion on the extraterritorial impact of recent and forthcoming EU regulations pertaining to RBC. Perspectives were shared from both EU and non-EU countries. Panelists included the Minister of Employment and Social Protection of Côté D’Ivoire and Vice Chair of the Alliance 8.7 Adama Kamara, the UN Permanent Representative of Nigeria and Chair of the ILO Governing Body Ambassador Abiodun Richards Adejola, Managing Director at BDA and Employer Vice Chair at the International Labor Organization (ILO) Renate Hornung-Draus, Vice President and Member of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala, and Member of the European Parliament Axel Voss.