Harnessing a “Smart Mix of Measures” to Protect and Respect the Rights of LGBTI+ Persons in Business Activities

LGBTI+ persons are disproportionately affected by business activities, facing discrimination and violence that impact their rights to equality and non-discrimination and lead to compounding violations of other human rights. Discrimination and attacks occur in various forms, including harassment in the workplace, stigmatization on social media, biased representation in advertising, and exclusion in sports. These risks are exacerbated by intersectional discrimination involving factors such as race, ethnicity, disability, age, migratory status, and more. Hostile cultural, social, and legal environments further restrict the corporate respect for human rights of LGBTI+ persons.  

This session, co-organized by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, ILGA World and PGLE, will explore different measures implemented by states, businesses, and other stakeholders to address gaps in protecting and respecting the rights of LGBTI+ persons in the context of business activities. Drawing on the recent report to the General Assembly by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, titled “Protecting and respecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the context of business activities: fulfilling obligations and responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights," the session aims to identify effective strategies and share good practices in this field by fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders. 

BSR will be present via its collaborative initiative, the Partnership for Global LGBTIQ+ Equality (PGLE), with one of PGLE’s co-chairs (Accenture) on the panel.

For more information, reach out to PGLE’s Director Richard Wingfield at hello@bsr.org.