"Listen Up: the Key to 'Speeding Up and Scaling Up' Business and Human Rights Reforms", 25 Nov 2015

Two phrases were consistently heard at the Fourth Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, which took place in Geneva from November 16 to November 18. The first - "speeding up" - was used to describe the pace at which change, in both the private and public sectors, needs to take place. The second - "scaling up" - was used to describe the types of actions that would bring the discourse of business and human rights to larger or different arenas. One additional term should have been added to this list - "listen up." To make sure the business and human rights community is speeding up and scaling up appropriately, we must ensure that those who are affected by the activities of businesses and those that have first-hand knowledge of what is and is not working are given heightened prominence in the conversation.