2022 GNI Annual Learning Forum

Date: Friday, September 30, 2022.
Time: 9am-12 pm ET

In person: Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Virtual: via Zoom
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Longstanding frameworks for responsible business conduct, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the GNI Principles on Freedom of Expression and Privacy, are centered around the concept of human rights due diligence (HRDD). In recent years, tech companies, civil society, academics, and governments have developed more detailed, tech-specific guidance and tools – some based on particular sectors, others tailored to specific risk environments. This move toward more granular and modular approaches to HRDD coincides with a parallel move by governments to regulate tech sector activities, including detailed requirements for risk assessment, mitigation, and related transparency.

GNI has been working with our diverse company and non-company members, as well as other partners to participate in and contribute to these developments. The 2022 Annual Learning Forum will serve as an opportunity to showcase some of this work and engage in thoughtful discussion of these matters with relevant stakeholders.

Issues that will be discussed include: (i) balancing consistent, centralized HRDD frameworks with the utility of local stakeholder engagement and scenario-specific processes/tools; (ii) triggers and thresholds for “enhanced” HRDD; (iii) ironing out inconsistencies between sector-specific and broader, corporate HRDD requirements; (iv) identifying opportunities for cross-industry and cross-stakeholder collaboration around HRDD; (v) ensuring that new regulatory “floors” don’t turn into “ceilings” that disincentivize/distract from deeper and broader human rights efforts; and (vi) the value, potential, and limits of voluntary, co-regulatory initiatives (including multistakeholder initiatives).

Agenda:

• 9:00 – 9:10 Welcome – David Kaye, GNI Independent Board Chair
• 9:10 – 10:00 Fireside chat – The Global Impacts of Regional Regulation: Lessons from Latin America
  • Pedro Vaca, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, in conversation with GNI Vice Chair Agustina Del Campo
• 10:00 – 10:55 Panel 1 – Mapping the Information & Communication Technology Ecosystem to Identify Gaps and Opportunities
  • Hannah Darnton, Business for Social Responsibility
  • Marina Madale, MTN
  • Emil Lindbald Kernell, Ericsson
  • Moderator: Elonnai Hickok, GNI Managing Director
• 10:55 – 11:50 Panel 2 – Due Diligence Guidance for Conflict Settings
  • Gerald Pachoud, Managing Partner, Pluto & Associates
  • ‘Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative
  • Jennifer Easterday, JustPeace Labs
  • Moderator: Usama Khilji, Bolo Bhi
• 11:50 – 12:00 Closing Remarks – Jason Pielmeier, GNI Executive Director