The world is experiencing interlocking crises that are posing significant challenges to sustaining and accelerating commitments to protect and respect human rights in the context of business activities, and to provide effective remedy when harm occurs. Geopolitical tensions, conflicts, widening inequalities, rapid changes in technology, climate change, environmental degradation, and the increasing complexity of global value chains all contribute to an unpredictable and rapidly shifting global landscape. In view of these transformations, ensuring that States and businesses uphold their respective obligations and responsibility to protect and respect human rights requires resilience, adaptability, political will, and heightened commitment and actions. Existing positive business and human rights mechanisms should be leveraged and new innovative initiatives must be developed to address these growing risks and drive meaningful change for rights-holders. Against this backdrop, the 2025 Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights will explore how different stakeholders can accelerate and scale up the implementation of the UNGPs amidst these challenges, creating innovations and opportunities for positive transformation.

Held under the theme: "Accelerating action on business and human rights amidst crises and transformations", the Forum will provide a multi-stakeholder platform to assess the effectiveness of existing frameworks and explore strategies to enhance business and human rights commitments and actions in response to evolving global dynamics. Participants will critically reflect on progress, identify gaps, and discuss innovative solutions that can drive transformative change. The discussions will particularly focus on the role of States, businesses, civil society, international organizations and others in ensuring that actions consistent with business and human rights imperatives are a vital priority despite the current global polycrisis. The goal is for participants  to leave the Forum with new perspectives on how to navigate these difficult times, creating hope for the future of business and human rights and renewed commitments for action.

The 2025 Forum will explore the application of the UNGPs, in particular the "smart mix" of voluntary and mandatory measures at the national and international levels, to accelerate business and human rights action among States and businesses and be innovative in a rapidly changing world.

Find out more on the event here