Outcomes The Dialogue progressed the business and rights discourse in Australia by bringing together, for the first time, actors from key stakeholder groups and sectors to explore successes, challenges and the steps’ required to meet those challenges and move the agenda forward. The Dialogue ‘next provided a shared and enhanced understanding of the of play’ in business and human rights in ‘state Australia and abroad among key groups, and generated networks within and between stakeholder groups The Dialogue demonstrated that the discussion has largely beyond business should respect ‘why’ human rights, to the practical questions around to effectively do so, highlighting a strong ‘how’ commitment from different sectors to improving practices and working with other stakeholder groups. Key challenges include: Scaling up good practice across and within all stakeholder groups. The translation and integration of rights language into business operations and practices. Policy coherence within business, society and government to avoid a siloed approach. Key opportunities include: Continuing and advancing the multi-stakeholder dialogue. Building the capacity of Australian businesses. Sharing leading Australian practices internationally, including regionally. Strategically engaging small and medium sized enterprises. Exploring what respecting human rights means in a developed country context such as Australia. Opportunities were also identified for the Australian Government to support the continuing dialogue in this space. The Dialogue identified a desire from all stakeholder groups for the conversation to continue, and the Global Compact Network Australia and Australian Human wonderful “A Rights Commission will look to convene a further national dialogue in 2015. event this – Consideration is also being given to additional activities as part of coordinated should continue.” action ahead of that dialogue, including sectoral and issue-specific activities, as (Business well as initiatives focused on building the capacity of Australian business to representative) understand and respond to human rights issues.
Outcomes The Dialogue progressed the business and rights discourse in Australia by bringing together, for the first time, actors from key stakeholder groups and sectors to explore successes, challenges and the ‘next steps’ required to meet those challenges and move the agenda forward. The Dialogue provided a shared and enhanced understanding of the ‘state of play’ in business and human rights in Australia and abroad among key groups, and generated networks within and between stakeholder groups The Dialogue demonstrated that the discussion has largely beyond ‘why’ business should respect human rights, to the practical questions around ‘how’ to effectively do so, highlighting a strong commitment from different sectors to improving practices and working with other stakeholder groups. Key challenges include: Scaling up good practice across and within all stakeholder groups. The translation and integration of rights language into business operations and practices. Policy coherence within business, society and government to avoid a siloed approach. Key opportunities include: Continuing and advancing the multi-stakeholder dialogue. Building the capacity of Australian businesses. Sharing leading Australian practices internationally, including regionally. Strategically engaging small and medium sized enterprises. Exploring what respecting human rights means in a developed country context such as Australia. Opportunities were also identified for the Australian Government to support the continuing dialogue in this space. The Dialogue identified a desire from all stakeholder groups for the conversation to continue, and the Global Compact Network Australia and Australian Human Rights Commission will look to convene a further national dialogue in 2015. Consideration is also being given to additional activities as part of coordinated action ahead of that dialogue, including sectoral and issue-specific activities, as well as initiatives focused on building the capacity of Australian business to understand and respond to human rights issues. “A wonderful event – this should continue.” (Business representative)
2014DialogueSummary.docx