The third round of the Business and Human Rights (B+HR) Academy was held in Tokyo on 17-18 October, with more than 30 representatives from 27 leading Japanese companies in attendance. Through the B+HR Academy, participants learned how to apply human rights due diligence (HRDD) in practice, including case studies and input from business and human rights experts. This training aims to enable companies to assess, prevent and reduce the negative human rights impacts of their operations.
 
Growing interest in the B+HR Academy – as well as the expanding network of company representatives who have completed the training – reflects increased recognition by the Japanese government and the Japanese business community of the importance of responsible supply chains.
 
The B+HR Academy is implemented by UNDP under a global partnership with the Government of Japan focused on business and human rights. The project has focused on working with companies to promote HRDD across their supply chains and, more broadly, responsible business policies in target countries. In 2023, the partnership entered its second phase and will continue to promote responsible business conduct in global supply chains through activities in five regions and 14 countries, including: (Asia) Mongolia, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam; (Arab States) Tunisia; (Africa) Ghana; (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic; (Latin America) Mexico, Peru.
 
The fourth Business and Human Rights Academy in Japan is scheduled to be held in Fukuoka in January 2024.