Background

In resolution 47/23 entitled “New and emerging digital technologies and human rights,” the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner to convene an expert consultation to discuss the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the activities of technology companies, and to submit a report thereon to the Human Rights Council at its fiftieth session.

Expert consultation

A virtual expert consultation to discuss the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the activities of technology companies took place on 7 and 8 March 2022.

The consultation responded to the mandate set in the resolution by focusing on four strategic focus areas:

• The State duty to protect human rights (session one);
• The role of the UNGPs in tech policy and regulation (session two);
• The corporate responsibility to respect human rights (session three); and
• Access to remedy (session four).

Please see the concept note and agenda or watch the video recording of the event for more information.

Call for input to the High Commissioner report on the practical application of the UNGPs in the tech sector

A call for input was open until 28 February 2022. The submissions received are available on the page dedicated to the call for input.