Argentina

Status

Efforts are currently underway to develop an inaugural NAP in Argentina. A 2nd NBA was published in May 2023 to underpin the NAP development process.

Process

In December 2017 Argentina adopted a National Action Plan on Human Rights 2017-2020 (in Spanish) which contains  a commitment to develop a specific NAP on business and human rights. Subsequently, a process to develop a specific National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights began, and a National Baseline Assessment (NBA) was developed (but not formally published), but this was discontinued in 2020.

In 2022, a new process to develop a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights began. In 2023 a detailed Technical Study for a National Baseline on Business and Human Rights in Argentina was published, conducted by a CSO ‘Conectando Derechos’. In May 2023, a 2nd NBA was published, conducted by the National Human Rights Institution (Defensoría del Pueblo).

National Baseline Assessment (NBA)

2019 NBA

• Finalised in May/ June 2019 but not publicly available.
• Commissioned by the State to inform the development of an inaugural BHR NAP. A process to develop an inaugural BHR NAP followed but was discontinued due to a change of government.
• Conducted by the State (Human Rights Secretariat).
• Utilised the DIHR/ ICAR National Baseline Assessment Template (for Pillars I and III) and a survey developed with the national chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact based on the UNGPs (for Pillar II). Based on desktop research, specific contributions from state agencies, stakeholder workshops, and online consultations. Contains priorities for action.

2023 NBA

• Published in May 2023 and available here.
• Commissioned by the State (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship) to inform an inaugural NAP which is under development as of June 2023.
• Conducted by the National Human Rights Institution (Defensoría del Pueblo) with support from the OHCHR, ILO, UNICEF and OECD through the EU funded RBCLAC project.
• Follows its own methodology based on desktop research and consultations with a broad range of stakeholders from the state, business, trade unions, and civil society. Contains recommendations. It includes a Technical Study for a National Baseline on Business and Human Rights in Argentina which utilised the DIHR’s Toolkit 2017 with regional and local adaptations such as the inclusion of the Inter-American Standards of Business and Human Rights.