A/HRC/44/56 communities and to involve youth, women and older persons, while also noting the potential danger of adapting the standards of free, prior and informed consent in some contexts, as it might lead to business practices that would not be in line with the relevant human rights standards, including on consultation and consent. The issue of building trust between indigenous peoples and Governments was raised. Indigenous peoples’ representatives shared examples of initiatives in the renewable energy sector that respected their culture, lands and sacred cultural sites but that were not recognized by States and businesses. In a session dedicated to access to remedy for indigenous peoples, panellists expressed the need for effective judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, highlighting the important role of national human rights institutions and special procedures in monitoring complaints. Indigenous peoples’ representatives shared information on current challenges, including limited access to remedy, the poor design of remedial mechanisms, which were also hampered by inadequate understanding of affected communities, their languages and cultures, lack of understanding of free, prior and informed consent requirements by businesses, poor regulatory frameworks, and failure to address risks and intimidation by businesses. 70. In a session dedicated to the role of the private sector in protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and their rights, participants discussed the operationalization of the relevant OHCHR standards of conduct.21 While noting the current lack of monitoring mechanisms, participants agreed that businesses could be drivers for positive change if they were more inclusive and open on issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, notably by engaging with local organizations and networks involved in advocating for their rights. Participants also highlighted the potential economic loss of failing to do so. The Stonewall toolkit to help companies to tackle discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons was presented during the eighth session of the Forum as an innovative tool to guide businesses on this matter.22 71. A session was dedicated to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the world of work. While noting that persons with disabilities, especially women, faced multiple barriers in accessing employment opportunities and in the workplace, participants said that there had been a shift towards more inclusive hiring practices and an increase in investment and in the number of business leaders with disabilities. 72. Various sessions specifically devoted to children’s rights were organized. Marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, one session showcased government policies that scaled up business actions affecting children’s rights and the rights of their families, including the following: (a) Mechanisms for encouraging children to attend school in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, through the engagement of businesses and families; (b) Agreements Netherlands;23 (c) on international responsible business conduct in the The Child Rights and Security Checklist in Canada;24 (d) The Effective Approaches to Ending the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Fragile Contexts programme in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia;25 (e) The UNICEF Children’s Rights and Business Atlas.26 73. In a report on ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains, ILO, OECD, IOM and UNICEF called upon businesses to address, at the 21 22 23 24 25 26 OHCHR, Standards of Conduct for Business: Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Intersex People (2017). See www.stonewall.org.uk/resources/agents-change-guide-lgbt-advocacy-businesses. See www.imvoconvenanten.nl/en. See www.unicef.org/csr/files/Child_rights_and_Security_Checklist_ENG.pdf. See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e1dd13d40f0b6115499f4d2/EffectiveApproaches-Ending-Worst-Forms-Child-Labour-Fragile-Contexts.pdf. See www.unicef.org/csr/businessatlas.htm. 15

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