Ref. Ares(2017)2210566 - 28/04/2017
DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE IN GENEVA
Author:
Date: 28.04.2017
Classification:
UNCLASSIFIED
To: - Ms Lotte Knudsen – Managing Director Human rights - Global and Multilateral issues
Subject: Business and Human Rights - Continued push for the EU to deliver at the
multilateral level
Summary
Details
1. This note provides a state of play on the various tracks in view of forthcoming meetings in
Brussels – COHOM of 3rd May as well as EP DROI hearing the same day.
UN track towards the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles: UN Working Group
and Annual Forum
2. The core group (Argentina, Ghana, Norway and the Russian Federation) is expected to
present a resolution at the 35th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC35) in June 2017 to
renew the mandate of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights – a 5-member Special
Procedure to promote the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights (UNGPs), established by resolution 17/4 in 2011 when the UNGPs elaborated under the
leadership of then UNSRSG John Ruggie were adopted by consensus. The Working Group is
also in charge of organising the annual Forum on Business and Human Rights – 26 May 2017 is
the deadline for proposals for the 2017 Forum focusing on "Realizing access to remedy" [see
our note on the 2016 Forum Ares (2016) 6607152 of 24 November 2016.]
UN track towards a legally binding instrument: the Intergovernmental Working Group
Report signed by
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