Belgium

PLANNED ACTIONS:

In the context of Action point 9, Renforcer la collaboration entre les services publics et diverses organisations actives dans le domaine des droits de l’Homme et de l’entrepreneuriat international [Strengthen collaboration between public services and the various organizations active in the field of human rights and of international entrepreneurship], the NAP states that various public services, in particular the MFA and the OECD NCP, have information on the human rights situation in different countries, due to their activities (this is the case of for the NCP); the local presence of Belgian representation; contacts with local civil society (especially human rights defenders), other “external” partners sensible to human rights issues (such as the delegations of the European Union and its Member States, the local offices of the United Nations and their specialized bodies, the Council of Europe, etc.) or with representatives of like-minded countries.

The Belgian federal, Flanders and Wallonia governments will aim at gathering inputs at federal and regional levels from various stakeholders, which have information on human rights and how Belgian enterprises can avoid becoming complicit, directly or indirectly, in human rights violations. The analysis that emerges from this exercise will be transferred to the embassies and the competent services in Brussels, who will be able to rely on this input to provide more information to companies in the framework of their regular contacts with them. The NCP may, if appropriate, use the analysis to take initiatives to mitigate identified risks.

Action point 16, Promouvoir les rapports sociétaux, droits de l’Homme inclus [Promote social reporting, including human rights] is the main action point covering the issue of non-financial reporting. Belgium’s actions will include insistence within the European Commission on support measures, for large enterprises that are obliged to publish reports on this issue, as well as for small and medium-sized enterprises and other organizations that wish to do so on a voluntary basis.

Action point 17, Plaider au niveau de la Belgique pour le renforcement de l’intégration du développement durable (y compris des droits de l’Homme) dans les accords de libre échange [Advocate for strengthening the integration of sustainable development (including human rights) in free trade agreements] mentions that “trade must have a positive impact on work and environment.”

The federal government states that during negotiations at the European level, Belgium will advocate for the respect and inclusion of fundamental labour rights and international environmental standards – including in cases of development cooperation – in investment agreements and free trade agreements. “Any new trade or investment agreement must not have negative impact on sustainable development.”

• Flanders mentions its support of the EU’s efforts to include separate chapters covering sustainable development, in which the environment, labour (including dignity in work) and transparency (including consultation with civil society) in free trade and investment agreements. Flanders aims to continue its advocacy for the inclusion of clauses promoting socially responsible entrepreneurship, including compliance and enforcements mechanisms, into these chapters.

In Action point 19, Promouvoir les bonnes pratiques des PME qui adoptent une gestion de la chaine d’approvisionnement responsable, notamment grâce à l’outil « CSR Compass » [Promote best practice of SMEs that adopt responsible supply chain management, especially through the  « CSR Compass » tool], the NAP presents the CSR Compass and explains that some companies could also engage in “strategic partnerships” with NGOs and recognized foundations on particular projects. The European Multi-Stakeholder Forum echoed these practices, stressing that partnerships with NGOs are a key to success in implementing practices of socially responsible multinational firms in the Global South.

Action point 24, Accorder une attention particulière à la question des droits de l’enfant dans la sensibilisation des entreprises [Pay special attention to the issue of children’s rights in awareness raising of enterprises], is specifically targeting the issue of children’s rights. According to the Belgian federal government, “the area of children’s rights have not been enshrined in the UNGPs to the extent they find necessary to address businesses responsibility to respect human rights.” Belgium wants “to give special attention to this particular issue in its NAP by engaging through several parallel measures, including systematic reference in international fora and bilaterally to concerned States on the ratification of Conventions Nos. 138 (on minimum age) and 182 (on the worst forms of child labor) of the ILO. Also, the NAP plans an active support and awareness raising of companies on the principles governing enterprises in the field of children’s rights, in order to allow Belgian companies to maximize the positive effects of their activities on the lives of children by supporting and respecting their rights and those of their parents or guardians, including the right to a decent wage.

Action point 25, Accorder une attention particulière à la ratification, au soutien et à la promotion d’une série de conventions de l’OIT ayant trait aux droits de la femme [Pay particular attention to the ratification, support and promotion of a series of ILO conventions relating to the rights of women] is the main action point covering the issue of women’s rights. Among main actions is the systematic reference in international and bilateral fora to ratification by concerned parties of the Equal Remuneration Convention No. 100 and Discrimination Convention No. 111 of the ILO, as well as emphasis on women’s rights in awareness-raising through the network of Belgian diplomacy.

Action point 27, Sensibiliser les entreprises belges à la problématique de la corruption et renforcement des engagements belges sur cette thématique [Educate Belgian companies on the problem of corruption and strengthen Belgian commitments on this theme] is the main action point covering corruption. In the framework of the NAP, engagements will include systematic reference in international and bilateral fora of Belgium’s ratification of the international anti-corruption conventions; follow-up and presence at the working groups of international organizations on anti-corruption issues and development of best practice; and awareness-raising of Belgian companies on the problem of corruption (NCP, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Justice, with the Confederation of Belgian Enterprises and the International Chamber of Commerce on the prevention of corruption in companies).