El Ciudadano
Recent criticisms regarding labor safety conditions in the salmon industry, along with growing debates on corporate responsibility within global supply chains, have reignited a critical question: How can we ensure businesses prevent negative impacts on people and the environment and respond appropriately when they occur?
This discussion has gained even greater relevance in the international sphere. A prime example is the trade restrictions initiated by the United States relating to goods linked to forced labor, as well as other initiatives aimed at enforcing higher standards of transparency, due diligence, and corporate accountability throughout supply chains.
In this context, representatives from the Chilean Civil Society Platform on Human Rights and Business participated in the X Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Panama, which serves as the region’s primary dialogue platform on these issues.
During the meeting, 30 civil society organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean signed a regional declaration – which the Platform endorsed – warning that despite progress since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles, existing mechanisms remain inadequate to ensure prevention, reparation, and access to justice for human rights violations linked to business activities.
Among their key demands is the adoption of mandatory regulatory frameworks on corporate due diligence, the protection of human rights defenders, and the strengthening of the multilateral system in this area.
«Today, companies understand their responsibilities regarding human rights, but in our territories, access to justice and reparation remains a debt,» noted Florencia D. Vega, a member of the Steering Committee of the Chilean Civil Society Platform on Human Rights and Business.
The forum brought together representatives from governments, businesses, unions, indigenous peoples, academia, international organizations, and civil society across Latin America to analyze progress and ongoing challenges in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, adopted 15 years ago.
According to Roberto Morales, the executive coordinator of the Platform, one of the main conclusions from the Forum was the observation that the business and human rights agenda continues to develop in the region, driven by governments, international organizations, and various economic actors.
«When one observes what is happening in Latin America and other international spaces, it is evident that this agenda is advancing gradually yet steadily. There is increasing awareness about the need to prevent human rights impacts and to establish effective corporate due diligence mechanisms,» he explained.
Another noteworthy aspect highlighted during the meeting was the increasing role of national human rights institutions and ombudspersons in various countries, which have taken on a more active role in promoting, monitoring, and strengthening standards related to business and human rights.
However, Morales cautions that the situation in Chile raises concerns when compared to trends observed in other countries, noting the limited presence of Chilean authorities and business representatives, while other nations report successive advancements in incorporating human rights standards into business activities.
«In Chile, there persists a sentiment that these issues do not hold a priority place within the public agenda,» he stated.
The participation of social organizations was also a matter of concern. Several attendees warned about the growing difficulties in ensuring representation from affected communities and civil society organizations in these spaces, against a backdrop of decreasing resources available for multilateral organizations and international agencies.
Fifteen years after the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Platform maintains that the major challenges for the region continue to be ensuring effective mechanisms for prevention, reparation, and access to justice for individuals and communities impacted by business activities.
«This Forum is an opportunity to consolidate a common regional agenda, reminding us that sustainability is not a corporate indicator but a necessary condition to protect our lives, our communities, and nature,» concludes D. Vega.
La entrada 15 Years After UN Guiding Principles: Human Rights and Business Platform Warns of Ongoing Justice and Reparation Gaps Due to Corporate Violations se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
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