Addressing the disregard for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs' concerns at the 12th Forum's discourse

2023-11-27

We are compelled to express our profound concerns and disappointment regarding the handling of our session proposal for the 2023 UN 12th Forum on Business and Human Rights (#UNForumBHR). Our proposed session, "Human Rights and SMB #Entrepreneurs," aimed to introduce a vital human-centric perspective to the discourse on small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (#SMEs). Regrettably, it appears that our proposal has been co-opted and significantly altered, undermining the essence of our human-centric approach.

The session, as it currently stands, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, at 10:00 CET. It is organized by the Working Group on Business and Human Rights (#WGBizHRs) in collaboration with the World Trade Organization International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The session's current description and objectives, while addressing the challenges SMEs face in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (#UNGPs), do not capture the essence of our proposal, which was to highlight the unique human rights challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs.