International Conference on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights (21 - 22 November 2024, Room XXVI, Palais des Nations & Online)
Background
In its resolution 27/21 of September 2014 creating the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, the UN Human Rights Council request the Special Rapporteur study trends, developments and challenges in relation to the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights and to make guidelines and recommendations on ways and means to prevent, minimize and redress the adverse impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights.
In an effort to identify and clarify international legal norms and standards applicable by states and businesses to protect human rights in the of the context of business activities in sanctions environments, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur developed the “Guiding Principles on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights” and their Commentary.
These Guiding Principles address the obligations of states and businesses under international law within different sanctions regimes for the purpose of ensuring full implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions, including their humanitarian provisions. They also refer to areas such as the delivery of humanitarian assistance, access to justice, as well as mitigation/minimization of over-compliance with sanctions and their adverse human rights and humanitarian impact.
International Conference
The Special Rapporteur invites all stakeholders to participate in the “International Conference on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights”, on 21 and 22 November 2024.
The International Conference is co-organised with the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations and will bring together various stakeholders, including States, civil society and humanitarian actors, academics and legal professionals to reflect on the Guiding Principles and address the main challenges caused by unilateral sanctions, the means of their enforcement and over-compliance.
It will also address the most important aspects of interaction of states and businesses in sanctions environments, the obligations of public and private actors under international law, as well as avenues to minimize over-compliance and to promote and protect human rights.
Issues in Focus:
- Terminology of sanctions, sanctions enforcement, over-compliance
- Principles of international law, applicable to the sanctions’ environment
- Human rights-based approach in business activity
- Non-discrimination as a means of protection of human rights in the face of unilateral sanctions
- National sanctions regulations from the perspective of international law including human rights law
- The concept of “due diligence” of states and businesses to ensure that activity under jurisdiction and control of states do not violate international law and human rights, obligations towards businesses
- National strategies aimed to minimize over-compliance to promote and protect human rights in the face of unilateral sanctions and sanctions enforcement
- Effectiveness of blocking statutes and counter-sanctions legislation
- Access to justice and access to remedies in the face of unilateral sanctions
- National policies aimed to enforce properly humanitarian resolutions/ provisions of resolutions of the UN Security Council
- Measures to be undertaken to enhance the effectiveness and efficacy of humanitarian response and humanitarian assistance in sanctions’ environment
- Inevitability and indivisibility of responsibility
The event will be held in a hybrid format, in Room XXVI of the UN headquarters at Geneva (Palais des Nations) and will be structured as follows:
- High-Level Conference (plenary session),
21 November,10:00 – 13:00 CET (UN Web TV stream). - Humanitarian stakeholders
21 November, 15:00 – 18:00 CET (Video) - Academics and Legal Professionals,
22 November, 10:00 – 18:00 CET (Video Part 1 / Video Part 2 )
Registration/Accreditation
All participants are required to register through the registration page of the event before 18 November. The registration link can be also found in the "Documentation" section below. After your registration is approved, you will receive a e-ticket/e-badge (with QR code) by email. A connection link for remote participation is also provided upon registration.
Documentation
Practical Guide for Participants (in person / remote)
Registration (until 18 November): https://indico.un.org/event/1013607/
Flyers:
Recommendations by non-governmental stakeholders
Videos
Sessions of 21 November
Part 1 / Part 2
Sessions of 22 November
Part 1 / Part 2
Link access: International Conference on Sanctions, Business and Human Rights.