The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Jordan, held a consultative dialogue meeting on “Business and Human Rights,” with the participation of representatives from ministries, official and national institutions, the business sector, civil society organizations, media outlets, academic institutions, and international organizations. The meeting was held within the framework of national efforts aimed at enhancing the alignment of economic policies and practices with human rights principles and relevant international standards.
In her opening remarks, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Centre, Ms. Samar Al-Haj Hassan, affirmed that Jordan is moving forward with political, economic, and administrative modernization pathways that contribute to building an investment and development environment based on respect for human rights and decent work standards. She highlighted the importance of strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for responsible investment and promoting the economic inclusion of various groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
She added that the meeting comes in light of the growing international interest in the business and human rights framework, and in reference to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, stressing the importance of promoting a culture of human rights due diligence within business practices.
Al-Haj Hassan further noted that the meeting falls within the implementation of the National Centre for Human Rights’ Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, reaffirming the Centre’s monitoring and advisory role in promoting the alignment of business sector practices with constitutional obligations and relevant national and international human rights standards.
The meeting addressed several themes related to the international and national frameworks governing business and human rights, the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights, and mechanisms for access to remedy and grievance procedures, in addition to discussing the role of corporate social responsibility in supporting sustainable development and promoting a business environment based on transparency, justice, and non-discrimination.
Participants also discussed the importance of strengthening partnership and coordination among state institutions, the business sector, and civil society organizations in a manner that contributes to developing economic policies and practices that take human rights into account and protect groups most in need of protection. This was explored through three sessions: the first session addressed the international and national frameworks governing business and human rights and was moderated by journalist Talal Ghunaimat; the second session focused on the responsibility of the business sector in respecting human rights and was moderated by Engineer Hussein Al-Sarayrah; while the third and final session discussed access to remedies and was moderated by Dr. Nahla Al-Momani.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Commissioner General of the Centre, Mr. Jamal Al-Shamayleh, emphasized that respect for human rights has become an essential component of good governance, sustainability, and competitiveness standards. He noted that the ideas and recommendations presented during the meeting constitute an important step toward supporting national efforts to prepare a National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights and to promote a business environment based on responsibility, transparency, and respect for human rights. He also stressed that the meeting will result in recommendations that will subsequently be followed up on and highlighted through the Centre’s work and legal mandate.
