Navigating Crises in MENA (Tempus) Forum on Business…

Moderator:

• Damilola Olawuyi, Vice Chair, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

Speakers:

• Professor Rashid bin Hamad Al-Balushi, Chairman, Oman Human Rights Commission
• Amal Belaid, International Law Specialist, Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights - Morocco
• Marie-José Tayah, Programme Manager and Social Dialogue Specialist, ILO's regional office for Arab States
• Yasser Akkaoui, Founder, Capital Concept
• Nourah Al-Sulaiman, Human Rights Consultant

Brief description of the session:

This session will explore how States, businesses, and civil society actors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are advancing the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) amidst a backdrop of complex and interlinked crises. From economic transformations to the urgent demands of the just energy transition, climate adaptation and digital transformation, as well as ongoing armed conflicts in some parts of the region, the session will examine how these challenges intersect with corporate responsibility to respect human rights and State duty to protect human rights.

Through concrete case studies from specific sectors, the session will highlight how businesses are seeking to embed human rights due diligence, stakeholder engagement, and remedy mechanisms into their operations—even in conflict-affected and high-risk contexts. It will also assess how States are developing National Action Plans and leveraging regulatory and voluntary tools to foster responsible business conduct.

Special emphasis will be placed on the rights of migrant workers—who form a significant part of the region's workforce—drawing on the Working Group's report on labour migration and BHR, as well as on recent data and research from governments and academic institutions to understand risks, violations, and governance trends. Participants will also explore opportunities for engaging youth in awareness-raising and advocacy, given their crucial role in shaping future business practices.

Key objectives of the session:

• Deepen regional dialogue on rights-based business practices that promote accountability, resilience and inclusive growth in the face of crises and transformations.
• Identify obstacles, drivers, and priorities crucial for realizing the UNGPs in the MENA region, in particular in the context of crises and transformation.
• Analyze sector-specific approaches to human rights due diligence in high-risk contexts.
• Assess the protection of migrant workers' rights in the region.
• Explore the role of youth in promoting responsible business conduct.

Key discussion questions:

• What are the main challenges and opportunities for implementing the UNGPs in the MENA region?
• How are companies in key sectors adapting their human rights due diligence and stakeholder engagement practices to local realities?
• What are the most pressing human rights risks facing migrant workers in the region, and how can States and businesses better address them?
• In what ways can youth be empowered to influence business practices and promote human rights in the region?