OHCHR | B-Tech Project

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B-Tech Project

The B-Tech Project provides authoritative guidance and resources for implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights (UNGPs) in the technology space. In 2019, UN Human Rights launched the project after consultations with civil society, business, States, and other experts about the scope of the B-Tech Project.

The B-Tech project is structured along four strategic focus areas:

Focus Area 1: Addressing Human Rights Risks in Business Models
Focus Area 2: Human Rights Due Diligence and End-Use
Focus Area 3: Accountability and Remedy
Focus Area 4: “A Smart Mix of Measures”: Exploring regulatory and policy responses to human rights challenges linked to digital technologies

Adding to this, the project also explores the responsibilities of investors in the technology space, as a cross-cutting theme.

Documents

Project documents

Foundational papers

As part of on-going consultation with key stakeholders, the B-Tech Project has published foundational papers. These papers are written for leaders from across the technology sector, investor community, civil society, and government seeking to understand the key features of the UNGPs. The series is being released to frame discussions among diverse stakeholders as part of a global process to produce guidance, tools and practical recommendations to advance implementation of the UNGPs in the technology sector.

Briefings

Rights-Respecting Investment in Technology Companies

Blog posts

Community of Practice

Interpretive advice

OHCHR response to request from Danwatch for advice regarding the application of the UNGPs in the context of the export of military software

Event, meetings, etc.

This section includes certain events and other types of meetings related to the B-Tech Project and in which OHCHR took part or is planning to take part, and which can be made public. If you would like to notify the B-Tech Project team of, or invite us to, relevant events, or propose organizing an event with us, please contact OHCHR-B-techproject@un.org.

Event	Date	Place	Additional information
OHCHR consultation on the practical application of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the activities of technology companies	7-8 March	Virtual
Multi-stakeholder consultation on “Engaging Policy Makers on Tech Regulation using the UNGPs”, organized by the UN Human Rights B-Tech Project, the Centre for Democracy & Technology’s Europe Office and the Geneva Academy	14 September 2021	Virtual	Summary note
UN B-Tech Leadership Dialogue: Technology executives in dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: The role of business leaders in advancing corporate respect for human rights	9 December 2021	Virtual	Meeting note
Internet Governance Forum 2021	8 December 2021	Virtual	Recording Summary note
B-Tech consultation on gender, digital tech and the role of business	8 December 2021	Virtual	Concept note
Business and Human Rights Annual Forum 2021	30 November 2021	Hybrid (Palais des Nations, room XVIII and on Zoom)	Concept note Summary note Recording
Multi-stakeholder consultation on access to remedy in the tech sector	23-24 September 2021	Hybrid (Palais des Nations, room XVIII and on Zoom)	Concept note and agenda Session 3 case studies for discussion Video recordings: Session 1: Recording Session 2: Recording Session 3: Recording Session 4: Recording Consultation report (summary)
Geneva Academy and OHCHR expert consultation on the State duty to protect	18 February 2021	Virtual	Agenda and concept note Summary note
EU-NGO Human Rights Forum 2020	9-10 December 2020	Virtual	Panel discussion Video recording
Business and Human Rights Annual Forum 2020	16 November 2020	Virtual	Panel discussion in cooperation with GANHRI Video recording
Internet Governance Forum 2020	6 November 2020	Virtual	Open Forum: "Upholding Rights in the State-Business Nexus: C19 and beyond" Video recording Summary note
UNGPs 10+ and UN B-Tech dialogue on investment and human rights	29 October 2020	Virtual	Summary note
Chatham House, Consultation on Access to Remedy	5 October 2020	Virtual	Program
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable Annual Meeting	28 September 2020	Virtual	Program
RightsCon Online	July 2020	Virtual	Panel on addressing business model related human rights risks (information note)
SwissNex	June 2020	Virtual	Geneva Talks: Humanitarians and Technologists, Unite! exploring the symbiotic relationship between technology & humanity (event details and recording)
The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the World Economic Forum & OHCHR two-day workshop on human rights due diligence and end-use	March 2020 (postponed due to Covid-19)	Virtual	Draft agenda and concept note
The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy & OHCHR expert meeting on addressing human rights risks in technology company business models	24 February 2020	Boston	Agenda and concept note
2019 Internet Governance Forum	November 2019	Berlin	Concept note of the Open Forum Session
2019 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights Session	November 2019	Switzerland	Concept note
12th Asia Human Rights Forum	October 2019	South Korea	Agenda of the Forum Concept note of sessions 4, 5 and 6 Case study for session 6
OHCHR Southern Africa Sub-Regional multi-Stakeholder Consultation	September 2019	South Africa	Concept note and agenda
RightsCon Tunis	June 2019	Tunisia	Summary report Introductory remarks
Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project & OHCHR Expert Meeting on the technology sector and access to remedy through non-State-based grievances mechanisms	June 2019	Tunisia	Agenda and concept note Summary report

For any questions or comments or further information regarding the B-tech project, please contact OHCHR-B-techproject@un.org. Subscribe to our newsletter.