Advancing Remedy and Responsible Business Conduct in Africa: The Role of the OHCHR BHR Helpdesk in Turning UNGP Commitments into Action

Background 

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As States and stakeholders across Africa deepen their commitment to responsible business conduct and access to remedy, the demand for practical and accessible support mechanisms continues to grow. To help bridge the gap between policy and practice, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is establishing a global Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights (BHR). This initiative aims to provide tailored, timely interpretative advice on the meaning and application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), serving as a single point of entry for States, businesses, civil society, and other actors seeking advice and capacity-building support.

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While several national and regional helpdesks have been launched or are under development in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, and Vietnam, such initiatives are currently limited in the African region. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

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This session will introduce the OHCHR BHR Helpdesk and explore how African governments, civil society, businesses, and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) can benefit from and contribute to this initiative. Drawing on lessons from existing helpdesks in other regions, it will highlight the Helpdesk’s potential to serve as a practical accompaniment to legal and policy BHR developments, including National Action Plans (NAPs), and support implementation of the UNGPs across Africa.

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Key Objectives

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• Introduce the OHCHR BHR Helpdesk and its relevance in African contexts;

• Share lessons learned from other existing helpdesks;

• Gather input from African stakeholders on priority support needs and accessibility;

• Promote cooperation and knowledge exchange to strengthen UNGP implementation in Africa.

 

This session directly supports the Forum’s theme by presenting a concrete tool to help translate commitments into action, especially in the areas of remedy and responsible business conduct.

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Guiding Questions

 

• How can the OHCHR BHR Helpdesk be able to address Africa-specific priorities in implementing the UN Guiding Principles, especially around access to remedy?

• What lessons from existing helpdesks (such as ILO’s) are most relevant for designing a model that works in diverse African legal, economic, and cultural contexts?

• From a business perspective, what are the main challenges in translating UNGP commitments into operational practice, and how could a helpdesk directly support overcoming these?

• How can governments, NHRIs, and civil society collaborate with the Helpdesk to strengthen both preventive measures and accountability mechanisms in Africa?

• What practical features and support services would make the Helpdesk accessible, trusted, and widely used by African stakeholders across sectors?

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Expected Outcomes

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• Enhanced understanding of labour justice challenges in Africa’s evolving work landscape.

• Identification of practical strategies for improving grievance mechanisms and remediation.

• Strengthened stakeholder collaboration to promote compliance and access to remedy.

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Background to the Discussion

 

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/business/bhr-helpdesk-info-note.pdf