Belgium
PLANNED ACTIONS:
Action point 1, Elaborer une boîte à outils destinée aux entreprises et organisations concernant les droits de l’Homme [Develop a toolkit for companies and organizations on human rights], presents the action of developing, in collaboration with experts and its main human rights stakeholders and organizations, a toolbox that will help companies prevent human rights violations and promote the respect for human rights through their activities. This “Toolbox” will be composed of different elements including how companies can create grievance mechanisms.
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] states that 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.
On Action point 13, Renforcer et contrôler le respect des droits de l’Homme dans les marchés publics [Strengthen and monitor the respect for human rights in public procurement], the federal government states that the Working Group on Sustainable Public Procurement of the Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development will examine how to strengthen and optimize the integration of respect for human rights into the purchasing policy of the public authorities. To this end, in consultation with the government and stakeholders concerned, including the sectoral federations, the working group will formulate a series of proposals with particular attention to hazardous sectors such as the apparel industry, the extractives industry etc.
On Action point 31, Mettre en avant les pratiques exemplaires des entreprises [Endorse best practice of businesses] the government of Wallonia mentions an engagement that will consist of publishing the initiatives developed by companies and on the other hand Walloon initiatives supporting the adoption of practices respecting human rights by SMEs. The aim will also be to create a platform for dialogue between stakeholders on this issue.