"Save-the-Date: African Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights, 16-18 September 2014, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)"

The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights is convening the African Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights...from 16 to 18 September 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Forum is co-hosted by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)...The Forum provides a multi-stakeholder regional platform for dialogue on the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights...Participants will include representatives from...businesses, industry associations, Governments,...civil society, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders. The main goals are to promote multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation on business and human rights..., provide capacity-building..., identify material issues and challenges..., identify emerging innovative practices...Key issues that will be expected to be addressed...include challenges and opportunities...related to: National action plans, Access to effective remedies (both judicial and non-judicial), Investment in natural resources (extractive industries and land), The important role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the informal sector, Ways of promoting the prevention and mitigation of business-related human rights risks...