From the UNDP Hub regional office, we are pleased to inform you the call for Virtual Course "The role of business in the protection and promotion of human rights" for the Caribbean is now open. 

The Course will start on 18 March and you can register by clicking on the following now: https://escuelavirtualpnud.org 

This e-learning course in the framework of the Global Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme, incorporating inputs from the gender, inclusive growth and SDG mainstreaming teams in the regional Hub and is supported by the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The virtual course has 5 interactive and self-managed modules that will deepen the knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles and practical tools to make them a reality.  Knowledge on how to integrate human rights and Agenda 2030 in their daily business practices, gender and diversity, due diligence and the co-responsibility of companies to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for their impact on human rights, participation mechanisms and reparations as a driver of inclusion.  

The virtual course is aimed at professionals from the United Nations System, public institutions and public-private companies, representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurs and individual and particularly youth from the entire English-speaking for the Caribbean region.

General Information

• The Global Program is guided by the UNDP Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 and promotes people-centered and human rights-based approaches to address the causes and effects of structural inequalities, exclusion, injustice, and insecurity, thus accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The Global Program continues to promote, maintain, and consolidate a wide range of strategic relationships, substantive partnerships, and financial partnerships to support policies and programs for the promotion of the Rule of Law and Human Rights.
• The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights aim to improve the standards and practices of businesses and States regarding the respect and protection of human rights. These principles apply to all businesses regardless of their size, sector, location, and ownership.
• The online course is part of the project "Transformative Andalusian Alliances for the Promotion of Innovation within the Framework of the 2030 Agenda and the Localization of the SDGs" executed by UNDP and funded by the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation - AACID.
• The virtual course consists of 5 interactive and self-managed modules that will allow participants to deepen their knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles and practical tools to make them a reality. This includes knowledge on how to integrate human rights and the 2030 agenda into their daily business practices, gender and diversity, due diligence, and the corporate responsibility to identify, prevent, mitigate, and be accountable for their impact on human rights, participation mechanisms, and reparations as a driver of inclusion.
• The virtual course is aimed at professionals from the United Nations System, leaders from public institutions and public-private companies, representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurs, and individual and particularly youth from across the English-speaking Caribbean region.

Information about the Virtual Course

The main objective is to increase the knowledge of the business sector on human rights, Agenda 2030, and business.

The specific objectives are as follows:

• Increase the knowledge and skills necessary to promote Agenda 2030 in the business context from a comprehensive gender and human rights approach.
• Analyze the context of Latin America and the Caribbean with updated trends and future challenges. Agenda 2030 and human rights as drivers of sustainable development.
• Understand the international and regional frameworks of human rights and business.
• Analyze the national context, the status of commitments made as a country, and the updating of a set of tools for action.
• Learn about experiences, good practices, and lessons learned, both nationally and internationally, in the development, management, and monitoring of national or business human rights plans that have been implemented.

The course consists of 5 modules, which are conducted over 5 weeks with a workload of 50 instructional hours: 

• Module 1. Agenda 2030, human rights, and the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: This module will address the principles of Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the importance of integrating the human rights and Agenda 2030 approach into the business sector.
• Module 2. Gender equality and inclusion in business activity: This module will deepen the importance and usefulness of integrating inclusion, equity, gender equality, and women's empowerment variables into the business sector.
• Module 3. Due diligence and self-assessment: the benefits of preventing, mitigating, and being accountable: This module explores the concept of due diligence and the responsibility of companies to identify, prevent, mitigate, and be accountable for their impact on human rights. The due diligence process includes assessing the actual and potential impact of business activities on human rights, taking into account the value chain.
• Module 4. Reparations as a driver of inclusion: This module will present the different tools and standards available to companies to work on and improve their social, environmental, and governance performance.
• Module 5. Role of companies in recovery: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted social and economic fabric, cutting back on progress made in recent years. The private sector emerges as one of the main affected by the crisis and, at the same time, appears as a key actor in the recovery. Different ways of identifying impacts and opportunities derived from the crisis in relation to human rights management in companies will be addressed.

Each module will incorporate experiences and good practices through relevant case studies. In this way, participants will learn from other experiences, what works, what doesn't, and what are the best practices to inspire a sustainable transition in their company.

Register here: https://escuelavirtualpnud.org