Sustainable Development Goals and local supply chains discussed at Business Forum

The Sustainable Development Goals and local supply chains were discussed at the recent meeting of the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum.

The meeting, which took place at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s offices and online, heard from former Irish Ambassador to the UN and Co-Chair of UN negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals, David Donoghue and Glenn Bradley, NI and International Supply Chain Expert, former Chair of the Forum and Former Head of Global Supply of Hardscape.

Speaking after the meeting, Chair of the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum, Stephen Abram said: “I would like to thank all those who attended the recent Forum meeting, both online and in person. It was our first meeting in person since the start of the pandemic and it was great to see so many people. I know that like me, our members found both David and Glenn’s presentations very engaging and that they took a lot away from it. I am grateful to David and Glenn for attending and I look forward to taking forward with members our work on supply chains and human rights.”

David Donoghue said: “I was delighted to have this chance to address the Forum on the role which the business community can play - whether globally or closer to home in Northern Ireland - in promoting human rights, equality and sustainability. As Co-Chairman of the UN negotiations which agreed the Sustainable Development Goals, I was instrumental in giving human rights a central place in this new global agenda; and from a civil society perspective, I remain active in promoting worldwide implementation of the SDGs, of the human rights treaties which underpin them and of the related ESG principles. This meeting of the Forum was a very valuable opportunity to discuss these issues with a cross-section of Northern Ireland's business community.”

Glenn Bradley said: “I was delighted to be back at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission presenting to their Business & Human Rights Forum regarding top tips on how a company, of any size, can move beyond paper CSR to make sure through demonstrable action that they and their suppliers are not complicit in human or labour rights abuse within their value chains.”

Claire Martin, Director of Engagement and Communications at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission added: “Businesses in Northern Ireland can play an important role in promoting and ensuring human rights. I know that members of the Forum found this to be a very interesting meeting and are keen for their businesses do their part in ensuring good practice around human rights, including in the supply chain. My thanks to both David Donoghue and Glenn Bradley for two very insightful and interesting presentations. The Forum looks forward to continued working on these issues.”