The Centre for Human Rights (CHR), together with the United Nations Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) of the OHCHR and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), hosted a multi-stakeholder dialogue on business and human rights at the University of Pretoria on 21 July 2014.

The aim of the dialogue was to bring stakeholders together from different backgrounds and representing different sectors. The event was attended by representatives from the United Nations, government, business, civil society, academia and communities. The dialogue also served to inform the agenda of a similar multi-stakeholder engagement scheduled for 16 – 18 September 2014, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 The dialogue was opened by a presentation by Ms Lene Wendland, the Advisor on Business and Human Rights to the OHCHR, and co-author of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Some of the topics discussed on the day included inclusive economic development, community engagement and participation, responsible contracting and lending, and access to remedies.

The dialogue was made possible by the OHCHR, and was hopefully the first of numerous multi-stakeholder engagements. The Africa Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Addis Ababa will bring together the same constituencies, and focus on similar issues at the regional and international level.