Vice Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi (SAN) has called on leaders in government, business and development sectors across Africa to step up their commitment to the effective implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) as a tool for boosting inclusive and sustainable prosperity for all.
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The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is also the global vice chair of the International Law Association, made these remarks during his High-Level plenary address to the 4th Annual African Forum on Business Human Rights convened by the African Union in partnership with the United Nations, and hosted by the Government of Zambia. Themed “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Remedy, Reparations, and Responsible Business Conduct in Africa” the continental forum brings together African leaders, development experts, business enterprises, civil society, and academia to explore how to promote and ensure responsible investments in all key economic sectors. The Forum featured high level speakers, including the Honourable Minister of Justice of Zambia, Princess Kasune, as well as representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Global Compact, UNICEF, African Union, African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights amongst other dignitaries.
While exploring progress made in addressing adverse human rights impact of business activities and investments in key economic sectors, Olawuyi called on African businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to be more proactive in integrating human rights, environment, social and governance (ESG) standards across their value chains, including corporate policies, procurement standards and operational grievance mechanisms, in order to minimise legal liability and regulatory risks. He emphasized that with increased adoption of right-based legislation across the world, including the European Union’s Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D), it is crystal clear that businesses in that fail to respond risk being left behind in a rapidly changing right-based global economy.
According to him: “Africa is rising as the hub for new investments in mining, infrastructure, agribusiness and green technologies. At the same time, as we have heard at this Forum, local communities, Indigenous groups, and marginalized stakeholders want a prosperous Africa built on responsible business practices. Profit maximisation is impossible in an atmosphere of public distrust, community protests and reputational damage. We therefore call on all States and businesses across the continent to step up their commitment to human rights due diligence, meaningful stakeholder engagement and sustainable development when making business, investment and licensing decisions.”
While commending the governments of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia and Ghana for being the first few African countries to have adopted National Actions Plans on Business and Human Rights, he called for accelerated action to transform growing commitments on business and human rights to reality. Noting that a ‘whole society approach’ is required to mainstream responsible investment into all economic sectors, Olawuyi called on states and business to provide more financial and technical support to national human rights institutions, higher education institutions, media, civil society organizations, Indigenous caucus and human rights defenders across the continent to continue their important work on promoting education and awareness on ethical and right-based investments that dismantle work-place inequalities and advance sustainable development.
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