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Al-Haq Attends the Third Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights
30، Nov 2014

HumanRightsCouncil-ArchivePhoto300x169On Monday 1 December, Al-Haq will participate in the third annual United Nations (UN) Forum on Business and Human Rights entitled “Advancing Business and Human Rights Globally: Alignment, Adherence and Accountability”. Al-Haq is participating in the forum for a second year. In 2013, Al-Haq attended the Second Annual Business and Human Rights Forum, presenting on Israel’s exploitation of water resources in occupied Palestine.

The three-day event will bring together different stakeholders to discuss businesses and the State duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and the right of victims to access effective remedy. Publications and visual documentation on exploited land and natural resources in occupied Palestine will be available at the Al-Haq stand throughout the Forum, highlighting the applicability of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Guiding Principles) in conflict-affected areas.

On Tuesday 2 December, Al-Haq in conjunction with Franciscans International, Fastenopfer, ACT Alliance, International Catholic Center of Geneva, CAFOD, CIDSE, CARITAS Genève, will host an event entitled "Improving Access to Remedy in Extractive Industries: Practical Perspectives on Challenges and Good Practices from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Palestine". It will be held at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room (Ground Floor), 1 rue Varembé (opposite ITU Building), 1202 Geneva.

At the event, Al-Haq will present a special report examining Israel’s exploitation of natural gas resources in the occupied Palestinian territory demonstrating how Israel systematically prevents the State of Palestine from developing its natural resources in its attempt to safeguard national and international corporate interests. In particular, the report will examine the role of multinational gas corporation Noble Energy and its consortium in conjunction with Israel in maintaining an illegal and lethal closure of the Gaza Strip to secure gas distribution networks. This special report - available in hard copy at the event - comes as a preview to a more comprehensive study on the exploitation of natural oil and gas in occupied Palestine to be published later this year.

This event will also provide a space to share good practices and identify challenges on access to remedy from across the world. It will also discuss key issues in relation to an international legally binding instrument on business and human rights.

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