Background

​​

The Business and Human Rights (BHR) landscape has largely been shaped by the Global North, leading to a dominance that often sidelines the interests and perspectives of the Global South. This imbalance is evident in the development of key frameworks, standards, and policies that frequently reflect the priorities and values of Western nations. The ongoing discourse around BHR, even in spaces that challenge mainstream narratives, tends to be dominated by Global North voices. This can marginalize the perspectives of the Global South and result in the imposition of Western-centric approaches that are not always applicable or appropriate across diverse contexts.

 

In the latest discussions among members of the Global North Dominance Watch, we identified seven crucial developments that are expected to significantly influence the BHR space:

• BHR Treaty Process: Momentum may build after the adoption of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): As we approach the 10th anniversary of the SDGs in 2025, there will be a need to assess them from a BHR perspective and plan for the next five years.

• Paris Agreement: The year 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, which will trigger reflections on global climate goals.

• Just Transition: As the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights approach their 15th year, debates on just transition are expected to gain traction, especially with task forces already being formed by UN agencies.

• Loss and Damage Fund: The newly formed fund, finalized in 2024, is expected to draw significant attention in 2025.

• UN Anniversaries: The 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference provide key opportunities to reflect on the UN’s role in supporting Global South interests.

• UN Global Compact: Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, this marks a significant milestone in corporate sustainability efforts.

 

In light of these developments, the upcoming meeting on September 23-24 will aim to achieve the following:

• Articulate Global North Dominance: Establish core elements of a Global North Dominance lens to critically assess the BHR landscape.

• Elevate Global South Perspectives: Identify and amplify the Global South’s voice within existing BHR spaces, ensuring that debates are grounded in expertise from the region.

• Restore the UN as a Global South Vanguard: Develop strategies to reposition the United Nations as a champion of Global South priorities, especially in the context of its 80th anniversary.

​​

The Workshop

 

The Global North Dominance Watch will host a 1.5-day workshop focused on deconstructing key concepts and frameworks in Business and Human Rights, Just Transition, and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). The aim is to democratize knowledge and decision-making by amplifying the voices of the Global South, particularly where the Global North’s influence tends to dominate.

 

Through in-depth discussions on few key thematic areas such as OHS, Intersectionality, Agriculture, and Climate, participants will explore the following key questions:

 

1. How is knowledge created, and how are targets and concepts defined?

2. Who develops the frameworks, and how are they shaped?

3. Who participates in decision-making spaces?

4. Where does knowledge exchange take place, and how inclusive are these spaces?

 

The workshop's aims to address the Global North's dominance over global narratives and paradigms. By advocating for the redefinition of key global standards through Global South-led frameworks, the workshop envisions a future that fosters greater equity, contextual adaptability, and the inclusion of diverse voices in global policy spaces. This approach, we envisage, will help create more inclusive, regionally relevant standards that better address the needs of the Global South.

​

Sessions and Speakers

Context Setting

• Pradeep Narayanan

​

Presentation from Working Group on Occupational Health and Safety – Country Contexts

• Dr. Ram Charitra Sah

• Dr. Ashish Mittal

• Aseni Wickramatillake

​

Decolonising Business and Human Rights

• Prof. Surya Deva

​

Decolonising the Debates – Themes and Space

• Ishteyaque Ahmad (Climate and Agriculture)

• Dr. Harpreet Kaur (Intersectionality and Transition)

​

BHR in the Transition Era

• Prof. Anita Ramasastry

​

Frameworks and Standard

• Dheeraj

​

OHS Knowledge Spaces

• Mahinda Seneviratne

​

Science and Global North Dominance

Sarah Hyder Iqbal