in co-operation with

Business and Human Rights the (EU) way ahead of

multilateral action
EIUC Diplomatic Conference, 20 June 2015
Draft Programme
9:00

Registration of participants

Part I: Assessing the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights
The focus of the first part of the encounter is that of taking stock of the implementing efforts undertaken between the adoption
of the UN Guiding Principles and the current day. In particular, the emphasis will be placed on what has been done so far, on
all governance levels and how these efforts have progressed towards the concerted implementation of the UN Guiding
Principles.
9:15

Welcome
Horst Fischer (EIUC President)
Engelbert Theuermann (President of the COHOM, EEAS)

9:30 - 10:00

The UN and Business and Human Rights: the implementation of the UNGPs
Speaker: Representative of UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, tbc
OHCHRs Corporate Liability for Gross Human Rights Abuses project: background, objectives
and state of play; how can EU MS contribute?
Speaker: Ragnhild Handagard (OHCHR Research and Right to Development Division)

10:00 - 11:00

The EU Way Implementation of the UNGP by the EU

The EC Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy
Speaker: Pedro Ortn Silvan (European Commission, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship
and SMEs -GROWTH), tbc
The UNGP in EU external action
Speaker: Riccardo Serri (Unit Human Rights and Democracy, EEAS) tbc
The UNGP and EU Member States: National Action Plans
Speaker: Representative of a MS with a NAP

11:00 - 11:30

Coffee break

11:30 - 11:50

Business and Human Rights at the Crossroads which way towards effective multilateralism?
Speaker: Dzidek Kedzia (Former Chairperson of the UN ESC Committee)

11:50 - 12:50

Round Table Discussion The Perspectives of Non-State Actors:

Chair & Introduction: Jeffrey Kenner (Professor, University of Nottingham)
Participants: Lotte Leicht (Human Rights Watch), Genevive Paul (FIDH), Gian Angelo Bellati (Secretary
General of Unioncamere Veneto and Eurosportello Veneto), a Representative of a Business company tbc

12:50 13:15

Plenary Discussion

13:30

Lunch

Part II: Moving forward on the implementation of the UNGPs. Exploring options for further legal
developments on BHR
The focus of the second part of the Diplomatic Conference shifts towards the concrete challenges that are to be addressed with the
participation of the European Union, both locally and multilaterally. Two working groups will be convened devoted to two areas:
identifying avenues of implementation still not taken or fully explored, and exploring options for future legal developments on
Business and Human Rights. The discussions in working group will be in the first place fuelled by the contributions from the
academic field providing the synopsis of problems and ideas based on comprehensive research undertaken within the FRAME
project. Within each of the groups an appointed Rapporteur would be asked to provide a summary of the findings to be used in the
second Round Table and final discussions.
The session will be concluded with a Round Table and final discussion presenting conclusions of the working group sessions and
suggesting solutions to the problems identified in the previous part of the conference.
14:45 16:45

Working Group 1: Moving Forward on the Implementation of the UNGPs

Chair & Introduction: Wolfgang Benedek (Professor, University of Graz)
Comments: Lotte Leicht (Human Rights Watch)
Rapporteur: tbc
Working Group 2: Exploring Options for Further Legal Developments on Business and Human Rights
Chair & Introduction: Jan Wouters (Professor, Coordinator of FRAME, KU Leuven)
Comments: Jerome Bellion-Jourdan (Delegation of the EU to the UN in Geneva)
Genevive Paul (FIDH)
Rapporteur: tbc

Round Table Discussion:

Chair: Fabrizio Marrella (Professor, C Foscari - University of Venice)
Participants: Rapporteurs +All participants of the first Round Table
17:30-18:00

General discussion and recommendations: The EUs Voice for Business and Human Rights in the UN
forum
Moderators: Engelbert Theuermann (President of the COHOM, EEAS), Jan Wouters (Professor, Coordinator of
FRAME, KU Leuven)

18:00-18:15

Presentation of the European Yearbook on Human Rights 2015

Wolfgang Benedek (Professor, University of Graz)

20:15

Dinner