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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is hosting an event entitled “Human Rights Due Diligence in a connected world: Approaches to shaping sustainable business practices from Japan” at the U Thant International Conference Hall of the United Nations University. This event is intended as an opportunity for public dialogue to reflect on the evolution of the policy discourse on responsible business and to present the achievements of the first year of the partnership between Japan and UNDP alongside national and international experts.

To further responsible business practices, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) require businesses to carry out human rights due diligence (HRDD): to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on people and the environment, thereby helping them manage potential and actual risks to their operations. 

In different country contexts those principles were translated in policies and approaches with various degree of strength. In September 2022, the Japanese Government issued the “Guidelines on respecting human rights in supply chains”, which provides instructions to Japanese businesses on how to act responsibly in accordance with the UNGPs by carrying out HRDD. In view of these recent developments, the incentive for Japanese companies and their suppliers to undertake HRDD is now greater than ever, increasing the urgency of expanding capacity building activities to meet growing demand.   

In March 2022, UNDP and the Government of Japan launched the project Promoting Responsible Business Conduct in target countries where Japanese companies operate, with a particular focus on promoting human rights due diligence in global supply chains and leveraging the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for a just recovery. The project, operational in 17 countries in addition to Japan, is partnered with other leading organizations in the field of responsible business conducts such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

The event is intended as an opportunity for a public dialogue to reflect on the evolution of the policy discourse on responsible business. The program will include presentations from the Government of Japan, beneficiaries of the project, representatives of the governments that were supported and businesses that received HRDD trainings and guidance. Civil society actors as well as representatives from embassies in Japan will also be invited to share their views alongside international partners. Please refer to the following pages for more details. 

Prior registration is required for participation: 

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON (United Nations University）Deadline: Friday, 9 June at noon

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE (Zoom)

*Seats are limited at the venue and you may be asked to attend online if the maximum number (300) is reached. If the maximum number of participants is reached, registration will be closed even before the closing date. 
*Please note that if the maximum number of online participants is reached, the event will be available via live stream and in that case only in the original language.