2015 Program

2015 ENGAGING BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Addressing the Challenges of Demonstrating Respect for Human Rights

Sponsored by the U.S. Council for International Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the International Organization of Employers

Hosted by The Coca-Cola Company

Thursday September 17, 2015

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Coca-Cola Company’s World Headquarters
One Coca-Cola Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia

Overview

On behalf of the U.S. Council for International Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International Organization of Employers, we hope you will join us for the International Engaging Business Forum on Addressing the Challenges of Demonstrating Respect for Human Rights onSeptember 17, 2015 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is the eighth human rights forum hosted by The Coca-Cola Company.

The forum provides a unique opportunity for a candid discussion between business leaders and other experts on the importance of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and the challenges faced by business in demonstrating respect for human rights in their business operations.

Participants will come away with an appreciation for the progress made by different companies at integrating respect for human rights, based on guidance provided in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. A variety of cutting-edge issues in this important field will be covered from different viewpoints as outlined in the agenda below.

There is no fee to attend the forum; however, all participants must register in advance. Please note that seating is limited for this forum, so you are strongly encouraged to register early. Please register here by August 21, 2015.

To read about the Access to Remedy Briefing, which was held on Wednesday September 16, 2015 at The Coca-Cola Company’s World Headquarters, please click here.

AGENDA
8:00 – 8:30 Participant Check-in and Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 8:35Welcome, Meeting Objectives and Agenda
  • Cindy Sawyer, International Labor Relations and Human Rights Director, The Coca-Cola Company
    		•
    8:35 – 9:00Overview of the challenging issues impacting Respect for Human Rights in Business today
  • Brent Wilton, Director of Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company


    • Includes a discussion of the cumulative impact of the “Engaging Business” conferences held to date and the most challenging issues, which will be addressed in this Engaging Business Conference:

  • Supply Chain Impacts, including Forced Labor and Land Rights
  • Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, including linkage to human rights
  • Human Rights Due Diligence, including how to do it, the importance of transparency and understanding stakeholder expectations
  • Human Rights Remedy, including a discussion of business’ accountability for remedy and what effective remedies look like
    		•
    9:00 – 10:00 Panel Discussion — Supply Chain Impacts, including Forced Labor and Land Rights
    Moderator: John Morrison, Executive Director, Institute for Human Rights and Business

  • Beate Andrees, Head of the Special Action Programme to combat Forced Labour, International Labor Organization (ILO)
  • David Bledsoe, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, Landesa
  • Jon Drimmer, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Barrick Gold Corporation

    Q&A
    		•
    10:00 – 10:15Break
    10:15 – 11:15Panel Discussion — Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, including linkage to human rights
    Moderator: Ariel Meyerstein, Vice President for Labor Affairs, Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Governance, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)

  • John Evans, General Secretary Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC)
  • Linda Kromjong, Secretary-General, the International Organization of Employers (IOE)
  • Bennett Freeman, Steering Committee, Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Initiative; Board member, Institute for Human Rights and Business USA
  • David Schilling, Senior Program Director, Human Rights and Resources, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

    Q&A
    		•
    11:15 – 12:00 Round Table Discussion on:

  • Supply Chain Impacts, including Forced Labor and Land Rights
  • Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, including linkage to human rights


    • Round Table Discussion – Process:

  • Tables will be given questions to consider.
  • Facilitators assigned to each table to guide the discussion.
  • Tables asked to designate one participant to report out, if table is called on.
  • One “note taker” assigned to each table in advance to capture key discussion points.
    		•
    12:00 – 12:45 Lunch
    12:45 – 1:15 Table Discussion Report Outs on

  • Supply Chain Impacts, including Forced Labor and Land Rights
  • Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, including linkage to human rights


    • Table Discussion Report Outs – Process:

  • Moderator facilitates report outs and Subject Matter Experts provide further comments and insights
  • Five Tables selected to Report Out on points discussed (5 minutes each or less)
  • Moderator will probe for understanding and glean key insights.
  • Different tables will be called on to report out later in the Conference.
  • Moderator and Subject Matter Experts provide concluding insights and comments.
    		•
    1:15 – 2:15Panel Discussion — Human Rights Due Diligence, including how to do it, the importance of transparency and understanding stakeholder expectations
    Moderator: James Plunkett, Director of Labor Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • Lauren Berry, Director, Social Performance, Kosmos Energy
  • Stuart Kyle, Workplace Accountability Director, The Coca-Cola Company
  • Chris Jochnick, Director of the Private Sector Department, Oxfam America
  • Caroline Rees, President, Shift

    Q&A
    		•
    2:15 – 2:30Break
    2:30 – 3:30 Panel Discussion — Human Rights Remedy, including a discussion of business’ accountability for remedy and what effective remedies look like
    Moderator: Catie Shavin, Programme Director, Global Business Initiative on Human Rights

  • Bob Mitchell, Global Manager, Supply Chain Responsibility, HP
  • Lene Wendland, Human Rights Advisor to the United Nations Office High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • Chris Albin-Lackey, Business and Human Rights Acting Director, Human Rights Watch

    Q&A
    		•
    3:30 – 4:00Round Table Discussions on

  • Human Rights Due Diligence, including how to do it, the importance of transparency and understanding stakeholder expectations
  • Human Rights Remedy, including a discussion of business’ accountability for remedy and what effective remedies look like
    		•
    4:00 – 4:30Table Discussion Report Outs on

  • Human Rights Due Diligence, including how to do it, the importance of transparency and understanding stakeholder expectations
  • Human Rights Remedy, including a discussion of business’ accountability for remedy and what effective remedies look like


    		•
    4:30 – 5:00Reflections, Insights and Next Steps

  • Linda Kromjong, Secretary-General, the International Organization of Employers (IOE)
  • Ariel Meyerstein, Vice President for Labor Affairs, Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Governance, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)
  • James Plunkett, Director of Labor Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Brent Wilton, Director of Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company
    		•