Business & Human Rights

Northern Ireland Business & Human Rights​

The Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum was established in 2015.

It is a multi-stakeholder platform which allows Government, business, and civil society to engage on business and human rights.

Our work is directed by its members with reference to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

It is an open forum to discuss human rights issues in relation to business in Northern Ireland and share good practice.

Forum meetings are three times each year and hosted by members of the forum.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission provides the forum’s Secretariat and chaired the Forum for its first year.

The current Chair of the Forum is Stephen Abram, Associate at A&L Goodbody, while the Vice-Chair is Barbara Henry, HR Policy and Compliance Manager at Caterpillar.

We are a part of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Business and Human Rights Working Groups.

The Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Forum has produced a human rights policy statement which reflects the values of the forum. It is open for all to sign up to, but this is not a pre-requisite of joining the forum or attending forum meetings.

We have produced a Guide for Businesses in Northern Ireland on Business and Human Rights.

The Forum’s last meeting took place in June 2022 and we were joined by 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.

Our next meeting takes place on 18^th October 2022 and will discuss the issues of Modern Day Slavery and Procurement.

Contact

If you have any questions, suggestions on what issues could inform the work of Forum or if you and your business would like to join, please contact us at info@nihrc.org