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Fifth regional Discussion board brings collectively governments, enterprise, civil society and the UN to advance accountable enterprise conduct throughout Africa.
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The fifth Africa Enterprise and Human Rights (BHR) Discussion board concluded as we speak in Dakar, Senegal, bringing collectively governments, companies, the UN, civil society, staff’ representatives, human rights consultants and indigenous communities to speed up accountable enterprise conduct and strengthen the safety of human rights throughout the continent.
Held from 29 September to 1 October beneath the theme “Realizing the Proper to a Clear, Wholesome and Sustainable Surroundings by way of Accountable Enterprise Conduct,” the three-day Discussion board targeted on the rising intersection between enterprise, human rights and environmental sustainability, and the sensible motion wanted to guard individuals and the planet whereas supporting sustainable financial growth.
The Discussion board was co-organized by the United Nations International Compact, the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP), the UN Working Group on Enterprise and Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Workplace (OHCHR), UNICEF and the African Fee on Human and Individuals’s Rights (ACHPR).
Marking its fifth version, the Discussion board has grow to be an necessary regional platform for advancing dialogue and motion on enterprise and human rights in Africa, a area estimated to lose roughly US$195 billion annually on account of environmental degradation, illicit monetary flows and unsustainable useful resource use.
On the similar time, international locations throughout the continent are strengthening frameworks for accountable enterprise conduct, together with by way of the event and adoption of Nationwide Motion Plans on Enterprise and Human Rights in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and soon-to-come, Malawi.
From commitments to implementation
Throughout three days of discussions, contributors targeted on sensible approaches to strengthen enterprise respect for human rights and environmental sustainability, with explicit emphasis on:
- Human rights and environmental due diligence: strengthening corporations’ capacity to determine, forestall, mitigate and account for antagonistic human rights and environmental impacts throughout their operations and worth chains.
- Water, sanitation, hygiene and land rights: addressing the impression of enterprise exercise on entry to protected water, sanitation, hygiene and land, significantly for girls and weak and marginalized communities.
- A simply transition: exploring how Africa can harness its vital pure sources (30 per cent of the world’s identified important mineral reserves) whereas making certain that the transition to greener economies is simply, inclusive and grounded in human rights.
- Entry to treatment: strengthening efficient mechanisms by way of which individuals affected by business-related human rights abuses can search redress, whereas making certain affected communities have a significant voice in selections that form their lives and livelihoods.
Key outcomes
The Discussion board recognized numerous priorities for continued motion, together with:
- Enforcement and accountability: enterprise commitments, Nationwide Motion Plans and rules should translate into actual outcomes for individuals and the planet.
- Past compliance: all actors should suppose past compliance. Human dignity should middle choice making — assembly minimal thresholds is just not sufficient.
- Collaboration should ship: no singular entity holds the answer. Systemic challenges want systemic options.
- Attaining the suitable to a wholesome, clear and sustainable surroundings and the simply transition is simply doable by way of actual partnership throughout sectors and significant engagement of rightsholders, particularly probably the most weak.
- Proportionate advantages: Africa is on the middle of the worldwide technological and inexperienced transition. Governments and economies should ship honest, equitable, accessible and inclusive advantages for African peoples and keep away from exploitative and dangerous impacts on the surroundings and communities.
- Insurance policies and rules should be coupled with enforcement and accountability. A Simply Transition can’t be decoupled from entry to efficient treatments for victims.
Talking on the opening of the Discussion board, HE Moussa Sarr, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of Senegal, introduced that the nation’s Nationwide Motion Plan is beneath closing overview and underscored the significance of operationalizing human rights frameworks: “A proper and not using a choose stays a promise. To construct a resilient and equitable economic system throughout Africa, accountable company conduct can not stay theoretical — it requires accessible, efficient treatment and judicial protections that uphold human dignity and safeguard the environment.”
Hervé Lado, Head of the Africa Hub on the United Nations International Compact, stated: “Harms to individuals and to nature are deeply intertwined, which is why company respect for human rights and environmental safety should go hand in hand. Because the area advances power transition and intra-Africa commerce, accountable enterprise conduct is important for staff and communities. Yearly, the International Compact equips tons of of corporations throughout the continent to implement human rights due diligence, transferring from commitments to sensible options and constructive impacts on the bottom.”
The 2026 Africa Enterprise and Human Rights Discussion board was delivered as a hybrid occasion, enabling each in-person and digital participation for 1,100+ delegates, together with 21% enterprise representatives, from 45 African international locations, particularly Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, DR Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ghana.
Notes to Editors
In regards to the United Nations International Compact
As a particular initiative of the United Nations Secretary-Common, the UN International Compact is a name to corporations worldwide to align their operations and methods with Ten Rules within the areas of human rights, labour, surroundings and anti-corruption. Our imaginative and prescient is evident: to mobilize enterprise to remodel sustainability ambition into motion on the scale the world calls for. With greater than 25,000 contributors and a presence in over 100 international locations by way of 5 Regional Hubs and greater than 70 Nation Networks and growth territories, the UN International Compact is the world’s largest company sustainability initiative. For extra data, observe @globalcompact on social media and go to the UN International Compact web site.
