Dakar Hosts 5th African Forum on Business and Human Rights

The 5th African Forum on Business and Human Rights commenced in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, focusing on responsible business conduct for a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. This significant gathering, scheduled to run until October 1st, brings together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government representatives, businesses, human rights organizations, trade unions, local communities, and international partners. The central theme, "Realizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment through responsible business conduct," underscores the forum's commitment to addressing critical issues such as corporate responsibility, environmental protection, access to justice, and the implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs). The UNDP, represented by Mme Catherine Phuong, highlighted the forum's origins five years prior in Accra, emphasizing its role in advancing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) within the unique context of African realities and priorities. The core challenge, as articulated by the UNDP, is to translate these commitments into tangible actions, ensuring that Africa's pursuit of investment, infrastructure, industrialization, and employment is conducted in a manner that respects human rights, the environment, and local communities. The UNDP further stressed that responsible business conduct necessitates the integration of human rights and environmental due diligence into all economic activities and value chains, with the forum also serving as a platform to review progress since its inception, noting that several African states have already developed or adopted NAPs. The title's mention of "195 milliards de dollars à réparer" suggests a focus on reparations, though the excerpt does not elaborate on the specific context or implications of this figure.