International law scholar and Vice-Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi (SAN), has urged world leaders to place human rights at the centre of global efforts to confront insecurity, conflict, and other interlocking crises.
Professor Olawuyi, who also serves as the Global Vice-Chair of the International Law Association, delivered this message during a high-level plenary session at the 14th Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Established in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, the Forum is the world’s largest yearly gathering on business and human rights. It convenes governments, corporations, civil society organisations, affected communities, and international institutions to advance the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
This year’s Forum—held under the theme “Accelerating Action on Business and Human Rights Amidst Crises and Transformations”—brought together nearly 5,000 participants and distinguished speakers, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council Ambassador Salma Rasheed, Deputy Director of the UN Global Compact Melissa Powell, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Chad’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights Dr. Youssouf Tom, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, and representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, the African Union, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Professor Olawuyi emphasised that meaningful progress on global peace and development will remain elusive until governments and corporations actively integrate human rights into their operational and security frameworks.
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