This is the first time an official United Nations-supported event has taken place in Scotland. Delegates from over 80 countries including national human rights institutions (NHRIs), international and regional experts, United Nations officials, government representatives, civil society and business organisations will discuss human rights issues on the theme of Business and Human Rights, and the role national institutions can play in improving human rights in a globalised world.
Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner on Human Rights will attend the event, which will see the ‘Edinburgh Declaration’ drafted as part of the conference.
The conference is being held in cooperation the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR and the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC)).
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said: “This will be the first time this conference has been held in a legislature and I look forward to welcoming delegates from around the globe to the Scottish Parliament next year. The work undertaken by human rights institutions around the world plays a vital role. The Scottish Parliament is proud not only to recognize this work but also to play our part in promoting debate and good practice in this area.”
Previous NHRI International Conferences have been held in Kenya (2008), Bolivia (2006), Korea (2004), Denmark (2002) and Morocco (2000).
Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights
Commission said: “We are delighted to be celebrating international Human Rights Day by announcing this conference coming to Scotland.
“Although ours is one of the newest Commissions in the world, by securing this event we are playing our part on the international stage. I’m sure that all of the delegates from our sister organisations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and the rest of Europe will share a wealth of experiences in Edinburgh during this important event.”
Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who will also be invited to attend,
added:
“This conference will provide an excellent opportunity for national human rights institutions to discuss and share priorities and strategies to improve the application of human rights norms in the corporate arena.
“National institutions play a key role in ensuring human rights are applied at the national level, and are also well placed to do serious human rights business with companies headquartered in their countries."
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “I was pleased to support the bid to host this conference and I am delighted that is has been successful. This is a real vote of confidence from the international community in Scotland and the work of the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The concept of human rights also extends to the impact of climate change on countries across the globe, which is why I am proud that Scotland is pioneering world-leading targets for tackling global warming, and why just this week I have announced the creation of a new 2020 delivery group to deliver those targets.”