A two-day event, the first UN Asia Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights, organised by the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights with the support of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was held in Doha on 19 April 2016.
HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi said at the function that Qatar appreciates the efforts of its expatriate workforce and considers them as key partners of the country’s development and growth.
In the opening session of the First UN Asia Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights he said: “The protection and enhancement of such workforce is a strategic choice of the country, as these workers are considered of pivotal importance in the exceptional economic boom.”
HE al-Muraikhi emphasised the significance of the forum owing to the prominence of Asia in the global business arena Gulf Times reports.
As the country pays increasing attention to the issue of business and the protection of human rights, Qatar hosting the forum is part of the country’s open policy to host the major forums concerned with human rights.
About 300 representatives of various commercial enterprises, government and non-government entities and civil society organisations are in attendance.
Under discussion is the impact of commercial activities on human rights and how to avoid and treat any negative influences emerging from such activities.
The forum also aims to enhance the application of the guiding principles on business and human rights, adopted by the United Nations, in the Asia region.
It also seeks to examine how government, business and financial sectors can play an active role in this.
The forum is viewed as an opportunity to expedite the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the region and raise awareness within the participating companies and organisation on the importance of the principles.
The main objective of the forum is to stress that government and companies share responsibility to protect human rights in the business environment and to spread this culture.
Key issues addressed include the rights of migrant workers, human trafficking and forced labour and child labour, major sports events and the involved labour issues, and the rights of women in workplace, among other related issues.
Drafted in by FIFA to advise on workers’ conditions, Professor John Ruggie said that no country or body hosting global sports events could “hide” from the challenge of human rights.
“If sporting bodies did not act on rights, they ran the risk of irreparably harming their image,” he added.
The conference also heard from Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.
