Consultation held on the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights

Protecting human rights in business operations is essential for building fair, inclusive, and sustainable economic systems. Recognizing this, FES Ethiopia partnered with the Ministry of Justice to convene a national consultation aimed at strengthening Business and Human Rights (BHR) frameworks and advancing responsible business practices across the country. The consultation is part of an ongoing national process to develop Ethiopia’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights, aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

During the discussions, speakers emphasised that a National Action Plan is crucial for Ethiopia to prevent and address human rights risks associated with business activities. Countries lacking such frameworks often face increased challenges, including:

• Child labor and exploitation
• Violations of workers’ rights
• Weak occupational health and safety practices
• Inadequate compensation and grievance mechanisms
• Human rights concerns associated with investment and labor practices

By developing a National Action Plan, Ethiopia aims to reduce these issues, clarify the human rights responsibilities of businesses, and strengthen systems that support affected individuals and communities.

The forum included presentations on core human rights concepts, the UN Guiding Principles, and the assessments conducted to date toward drafting the NAP. Participants then engaged in group discussions and identified key actions, challenges, and priorities that should be incorporated into the national document, including human rights concerns within business environments, including frequent violations of workers’ rights such as unsafe working conditions, low wages, discrimination, lack of freedom of association, and limited worker complaint mechanisms. They also discussed challenges related to weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate awareness of human rights standards among employers, and gaps in monitoring supply chains.

Participants also identified practical actions and priorities that should be reflected in the national BHR document. These included strengthening legal protections for workers, improving inspection and enforcement systems, enhancing corporate accountability, and promoting continuous dialogue between workers, businesses, and government institutions.

The Ministry of Justice will continue to conduct similar consultations with regional and community stakeholders. This participatory approach will help create a comprehensive and practical National Action Plan that strengthens human rights protection within Ethiopia’s business environment.