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Institute of Developing Economies>Seminars & Events >International Symposium>International Symposium “Responsible Business, Responsible Supply Chain "How should Japan act to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights? : A launch of multi stakeholders engagement for NAP process"”

Seminar & Events

International Symposium

Responsible Business, Responsible Supply Chain "How should Japan act to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights? : A launch of multi stakeholders engagement for NAP process"

In 2011, states in the United Nations Human Rights Council, including Japan, unanimously endorsed a set of Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Since then, global efforts to implement the Guiding Principles have been accumulated by governments, business and civil society around the world. Effective management of human rights risks is now part of responsible business, both at home and abroad, especially in emerging markets and developing countries. Responsible business and investment contribute to resolve social issues in the countries as well as strengthen business competitiveness.

On 16 November 2016, in UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, The Permanent Mission of Japan issued a statement of its commitment to implement the Guiding Principles and plan to formulate National Action Plans (NAP). Further, drafting NAP on the UN Guiding Principles was enlisted in the Japan's SDGs action plan released on 22 December 2016.

How should Japan act to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in its policy and practice? What should Japan's NAP process be? The result of our questionnaire conducted in our symposium organized by IDE on UN Guiding Principles last June shows, over 80 % of respondents are interested in Japan's NAP process. At the same time the difference of degree of understanding the Guiding Principles is clear.

In this symposium, we invite experts, members of UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, to discuss to identify areas and challenges where accelerated action is needed by Japan as a whole. We hope this symposium will create a forum for multi stakeholders, government, business and civil society to discuss Japan's NAP future.

We look forward to your participation in the symposium.

Date&time:

March 1, 2017 (Wednesday) 13:30-17:35 (Registration opens at 13:00)

Venue:

Japan External Trade Organization Headquarters 5F Exhibition Hall
Ark Mori Building, 5F 12-32, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Program:

(tentative)

13:30
Opening Remarks
(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
13:40
Concept Introduction
Miwa Yamada (Director, Law and Institution Studies Group, IDE-JETRO)
14：15
Keynote Speech
"UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and practice: Global trends and recommendation to Japan's NAP Process"
Dante Pesce, (Member, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights)
14：55
Lecture 1
"Finance and Human Rights: US NAP and its implication to Japan"
Anita Ramasastry, (Member, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights)
15：30 Coffee Break
15：50
Lecture 2
"Leadership and Leverage in Responsible Supply Chains"
Peter McAllister (Executive Director, Ethical Trade Initiative)
16：25
Panel Discussion
Moderator：
Hiroshi Sato (Chief Senior Researcher, IDE-JETRO)
Panelists：
Dante Pesce, Anita Ramasastry, Peter McAllister,
Miki Watanabe (Group Manager, CSR Planning and Implementation Group, CSR Department, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.)
Jun Yamamoto (Managing Director, GOLDEN DOWA ECO-SYSTEM MYANMAR Co., Ltd.)
17：30
Closing Remarks
TBD (Executive Vice President, IDE-JETRO)
17：35 Closing

Languages:

Simultaneous interpretation in Japanese and English will be available

Organizer:

IDE-JETRO
Supported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations Information Centre

Participation fee:

Free

Contact:
External Relations Division, Research Promotion Department, IDE-JETRO
E-mail：sympo-sc E-mail