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In today’s global, integrated, and transparent world, business is expected to do more than deliver shareholder returns. At its best, business is a creative force and an integral player in delivering prosperity for 9 billion people, applying game-changing technologies for social benefit, and radically reducing our use of natural resources. At the same time, societal expectations have given rise to a wide array of new frameworks to assess and/or regulate company performance.
BSR is pleased to announce a workshop series to help companies seize opportunities to interpret and implement these new frameworks.
Workshop Calendar
Human Rights and Transnational Enterprises: Practical Applications of the UN’s Guiding Principles on Human Rights
When: Friday October 14, 2010, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Paris, France
The one day workshop will be organized in three segments:
- presentation and discussion on the UN’s Guiding Principles, best practice for policy development and implementation
- training session on effectively managing human rights
- hands-on session to address different scenarios.
In June, the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights proposed by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. The principles outline the steps companies should take to ensure respect for human rights. The principles have quickly emerged as the global standard for business and human rights, and companies in all sectors are beginning to develop appropriate management systems based on these principles. In this full-day workshop, participants will learn about the key elements of effective human rights due diligence, including human rights policies, impact assessments, integration and performance measurement, and reporting. Using interactive exercises and real examples, we will share a step-by-step approach to minimizing human-rights-related risks and maximizing opportunities for positive impact.
Building Effective Local Content Strategies
When: Tuesday 24th January 2012
Where: Paris, France
Delivering local benefits in the communities where extractives companies operate is no longer a choice. It is a commercial necessity—and one that is increasingly mandated by law. After nearly two decades working with companies multiple industries and regions, BSR has learned that the key to success is to deliver both development value for the community and commercial value for the company.
This full-day training will demonstrate how companies can do this by defining community-development priorities, developing human-rights-assurance frameworks, enhancing local-procurement programs, and working to improve public policy and regulatory frameworks.
Participants will learn about what works and what doesn’t from other company leaders–and they will have ample time to discuss, challenge, and adapt the lessons to their own companies. Benefits become local and sustainable when they are part of the company’s business model and part of everyone’s goals and objectives for commercial success.
Engaging with local communities through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
When: June 19, 2012
Where: The British Museum in London
The UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognized the need for free, prior and informed consent by Indigenous Peoples in the event of any potential relocation and/or restitution. For example, with over 60% of the gold extracted today found on Indigenous territories, some Indigenous rights organizations have attempted to clarify and operationalize the concept, and fewer companies have attempted to develop a policy around it. Yet, several countries with substantial Indigenous populations have enacted laws requiring FPIC for extractive projects and most recently, the IFC has incorporated it to its revised standards.
This session will focus on understanding what FPIC means to your company by providing experiences from extractives companies who have pioneered this approach into their systems, from NGOs who will explain their expectations and experience guiding Indigenous Peoples on the subject, and government officials from countries that require documentation and successful FPIC process in the extractives sector.
Going Beyond Traceability of Conflict Minerals: Lessons Learned Promoting Sustainable Local Benefits in DRC
When: November 2012
Where: To be determined
Cost: Free to BSR members, 400€ per workshop for non-members.
Who Should Attend
The sessions are open to CSR practitioners from companies in the energy and extractives, food and agriculture, transportation and infrastructure sectors across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The series will be designed as interactive sessions based around practical case examples and field experts. For more information, please contact Alejandra Martin, Manager, Energy and Extractives amartin@bsr.org.
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