On Tuesday, 20 June, the United States, 2023 Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), hosted a hybrid side-event on the margins of the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, co-sponsored by the governments of Costa Rica, the Maldives, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, titled “Using the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) to Promote Fundamental Freedoms and Prevent the Misuse of Technology”.
The event featured opening remarks from U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council Michèle Taylor, who emphasised the importance of ensuring an Internet and digital future that aligns with democratic values. Ambassador Taylor introduced the panel session by encouraging businesses and states to use existing tools like the UNGPs as a base to contribute to the responsible use of new and emerging digital technologies, to promote the respect of human rights, inclusivity, a vibrant civil society, rule of law, democracy, economic prosperity, and universal environmental sustainability. The Ambassador highlighted recent joint outputs of the Coalition, and drew attention to the work of multistakeholder initiatives, emphasising the crucial role of civil society and human rights defenders in protecting and expanding civic freedoms which benefits all aspects of society.
Following opening remarks, moderator Lene Wendland (Chief of the Business and Human Rights Unit in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) opened the panel to discuss how governments and technology companies can work together to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights across value chains. The panel session featured input from Amalia Toledo (Lead Public Policy Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Wikimedia Foundation), Irene Khan (UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion), Steve Crown (Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Human Rights at Microsoft), and Victor Kapiyo (Advocate and Digital Rights Expert from Kenya ICT Action Network).
Panellists underscored the UNGPs as an important framework for business to identify responsibilities, and for states to know their duties to protect against corporate harm to human rights. The panel further discussed the harms civil society members face when technology companies fail to apply the Guiding Principles, and emphasised the need to identify ways in which the benefits of digital technology, such as the ability to express opinions, participate in governance, and access information, can be promoted, and their harms limited. Panellists noted that marginalised groups, such as women and people of diverse gender identities and sexual orientation, are disproportionately affected in unique ways by the lack or ineffectiveness of actions taken by both states and businesses, but also by technological developments whose impact on these population groups is rarely considered. It was noted that the UNGPs provide concrete guidance on how companies should align their operations with regards to gender, in addition to existing practical resources to help states and businesses in adopting a gender perspective in the implementation of the UNGPs.
With the erosion of public trust in digital technology companies and their business models, speakers highlighted the need to promote rights-respecting practices, and prompt companies to establish comprehensive human rights policies that demonstrate their commitment to human rights and the UNGPs. Additionally, panellists emphasised the importance of ensuring inclusive multistakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluating ongoing processes, and improving due diligence. Opportunities to encourage compliance with the UNGPs and other human rights frameworks were also highlighted during the discussion, including the potential for governments to explore how to provide incentives to businesses, and to build upon or merge efforts with new initiatives, such as the development of the Global Digital Compact.
To learn more about the FOC’s Geneva Diplomatic Network, and the Coalition’s engagement in multilateral forums, visit the following page on the FOC website.
