2016 Engaging Business Forum Conference

The Three Pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Expert updates on the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework — what Business needs to know now

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

September 22-23, 2016

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 “The Three Pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: What Business needs to know now” on September 22-23, 2016. This is the ninth 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 from government and civil society 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. A variety of experts will offer diverse perspectives on a number of cutting-edge issues in this important field, including new developments on the state duty to protect (Pillar 1), evolving corporate reporting frameworks related to adverse human rights impacts (Pillar 2) and emerging practice in providing access to effective remedy (Pillar 3).

2016 ENGAGING BUSINESS

Participants will come away with an appreciation for the progress made aligned with the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework and how different companies are 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.

Please note that this year’s Forum will be a day and a half event. The main conference will take place on September 22 from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, followed by a cocktail reception. The program will continue with a side event on September 23 from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, focusing on new developments on global supply chains at the International Labour Organization and in national legislation (e.g. the UK Modern Slavery Act) and new initiatives on forced labor and human trafficking.

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. Registration is now closed; please contact sbyrnes@coca-cola.com if you would like to attend.

22nd September
Time
Agenda

8:00 – 8:30 AM

1

Participant Check-in and Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:35 AM

2

Welcome, Conference Objectives and Agenda
Speakers
Cindy Sawyer

International Labor Relations and Workplace Rights Director, The Coca-Cola Company

8:35 – 10:00 AM

3

Leadership Dialogue and Perspectives on Human Rights and Business by Brent Wilton
Government Leader Perspective of Human Rights and Business by Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young, Jr.
Author's Perspective on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, focusing on the Protect, Respect, and Remedy Framework, including where we are now and lessons learned by John Ruggie
Q&A
Speakers
Brent Wilton

Global Workplace and Human Rights Director, The Coca-Cola Company

Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young, Jr.

14th United States Ambassador to the United Nations, 55th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th district

John Ruggie

Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and an Affiliated Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School

10:00 - 10:15 AM

4

Break

10:15-11:15 AM

5

The Evolution of State Protection: What's new at the national and global levels regarding Government's Responsibility to Protect Human Rights
Q&A
Moderator
Sarah Fox

Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Speaker
Thomas Richards

Chief of Staff, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor

Ariel Meyerstein

Vice President for Labor Affairs, Corporate Responsibility and Corporate
Governance, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)

Phil Bloomer

Executive Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Michael Addo

Member of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Business and
Human Rights and Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter

11:15-11:45 AM

6

Decent Work in the Global Economy
Speaker
Chris Lu

Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

7

Lunch/Break

12:45-1:30 PM

8

Lunch/Break

1:00-2:00 PM

9

How the Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights is developing, including the identification of salient human rights issues and reporting
Q&A
Moderator
Linda Kromjong

Secretary-General of the International Organization of Employers (IOE)

Speaker
Caroline Rees

President, Shift

John Morrison

Executive Director, Institute for Human Rights and Business

Teresa Fogelberg

Deputy Chief Executive, GRI

2:00-3:00 PM

10

Round Table Discussion on the Respect Pillar
30 Minute 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 to capture key discussion points

30 Minute Table Discussion Report Outs

Process:
Moderator facilitates report outs and Subject Matter Experts provide further comments and insights
Approx. 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

3:00-3:15 PM

11

Break

3:15-3:45 PM

12

Shifting realities of Grievance Mechanisms and their impact on affected rights holders
Speaker
Cherie Blair

CBE, QC - Chair, Omnia Strategy LLP

3:45-4:45 PM

13

How Expectations regarding Grievance Mechanisms are changing and should be actioned
Q&A
Moderator
James Plunkett

Director of Labor Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Speaker
Ron Oswald

General Secretary of the International Union of Food and Allied Workers

Melike Yetken

Senior Adviser, Corporate Responsibility, U.S. Department of State

Kevin Coon

Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie's Toronto Office

Yousuf Aftab

Principal, Enodo Rights

4:45-5:15 PM

14

Business and Human Rights: Where will the coming years likely take us
Speaker
John Ruggie

Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and an Affiliated Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School

5:15-5:30 PM

15

Wrap-up and Next Steps
Speaker
Brent Wilton

Director of Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company

5:30-7:00 PM

16

Cocktail Reception
At the Coca-Cola Company's Headquarters following the Conference
23rd SEPTEMBER(Side Event)
Time
Agenda

8:00-8:30 AM

1

Participant Check-in and Continental Breakfast

8:30-9:45 AM

2

The Role of Employer Organizations in Global Policy Engagement on Human Rights and Labor Standards

This session will include an overview of employer organization engagement in global policy discussions on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises; a debrief of the June 2016 Intergovernmental Working Group on the development of a treaty on transnational corporations & human rights Treaty; and a preview of 5th Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (Nov 2016).

Moderator
Laura Chapman Rubbo

Director of International Labor Standards, The Walt Disney Company

Speakers
Ariel Meyerstein

Vice President for Labor Affairs, Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Governance, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)

Linda Kromjong

Secretary-General of the International Organization of Employers (IOE)

James Plunkett

Director of Labor Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

9:45-10:00 AM

3

Break

10:00-11:30 AM

4

Employer Updates on Policy Initiatives on Multinational Enterprises and Global Supply Chains

This session will inform participants about the outcomes of:

  • The International Labor Organization’s General Discussion on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains in June 2016 and the related business strategy;
  • The first meeting of the Tripartite Working Group, which is tasked to review the ILO MNE Declaration, and the business strategy.
Moderator
Linda Kromjong

Secretary-General, International Organization of Employers

Speakers
Ed Potter

Employers` Spokesperson in the ILC Discussion on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains

Ariel Meyerstein

Vice President for Labor Affairs, Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Governance, U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB)

Matthias Thorns

Senior Advisor, International Organization of Employers

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

5

New Initiatives Promoting Ethical Recruitment and New Legal Tools for Combating Forced Labor and Human Trafficking

This session will discuss recent laws, policies, international instruments and multi-stakeholder cooperative mechanisms for promoting ethical recruitment practices and combatting forced labor. Panel members will discuss the importance and inter-linkages of the 2015 ILO Protocol on Forced Labor, the UK Modern Slavery Bill, the California Transparency Act, the Obama Executive Order on Public Procurement, as well as other similar pending legislation and instruments.

Moderator
David Schilling

Senior Program Director, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)

Speakers
Cherie Blair

CBE, QC - Chair, Omnia Strategy LLP

John Morrison

Executive Director, Institute for Human Rights and Business

Lara White

Senior Labor Migration Specialist, International Organization on Migration

Houtan Homayounpour

Forced Labor Specialist, International Labor Organization

12:30-1:30 PM

6

Lunch/Conclusion