Welcome to Britain Brunei Business Forum

Business and Human Rights

In June 2011 the Human Rights Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This marked the culmination of several years' work by the UNSG Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie, with the UK playing a key role in support. The Principles are also known as the ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework’, for the three pillars they comprise, namely the State duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights of others; and the need for access by victims to effective remedies, judicial and non-judicial.

Interest in the impact that businesses have on human rights has been around since the mid-1990s and the UK has played a leading role in various international initiatives on steps that companies can take to respect human rights. The UN Guiding Principles mark the highpoint of work on this to date.

To the British companies in Brunei, please be aware that the UK has a pending strategy that will encourage companies both to look at the kinds of human rights harms that could result from their activities, and to mitigate those risks. Companies should consider issues that might be particularly relevant to the local situation (e.g. use of child labour; abuse of migrant labour). If you are looking for guidance pending the UK strategy paper, check out the excellent Danish Institute for Human Rights’ work on human rights impact assessments, at http://www.humanrightsbusiness.org/?f=compliance_assessment

The UK Trade and Investment for Growth White Paper

In February 2011, the Government published the Trade and Investment for Growth White Paper (www.bis.gov.uk/policies/trade-policy-unit). The White Paper set out the Government’s strategy to encourage UK businesses to trade more and to new, high growth markets; to encourage inward investors into the UK; and to strengthen the multilateral trading system, including helping developing countries benefit from trade and investment. One year on, read about their progress here and here.

The British Business Club

With less than 100 Days to Go till the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, make the most of the opportunities in the UK with th British Business Club ! It is an online resource for companies to make the most of business networking activity around the Games and other major sporting events.

It provides up-to-date details of networking events, business activity, news and potential partners, boosting the opportunities for UK companies to make beneficial international business connections.

In February the club hosted an online partnering service that now enables members across the World to profile themselves and connect with each other online. In the run-up to the Games and beyond, we encourage you to sign up if you think it will be of interest and use – it is not just for those business is connected with sporting events.

Through the partnering service, members will be able to:

showcase their business capability, expertise and know-how by creating an online profile,
connect with business partners worldwide, and
increase their chances of meeting and engaging with potential business partners during the exciting atmosphere of a major sports event.

Whether in the UK or overseas, register now at www.britishbusinessclub.org and start your business networking.

As we move into the final five months before London 2012, the British Business Club can make the most of this once in a lifetime chance to promote companies during the greatest show on earth.