Realising responsible business conduct - the EU proposal on mandatory due diligence

This conference will explore the legislative proposal from the EU Commission and the role it can play in ensuring responsible business conduct and respect for human rights by business.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights call on governments to design and implement a mix of regulatory and supporting measures, and the conference will also explore what other measures need to be put in place in Denmark and other EU member states.

The objective of the event is to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue on what constitutes a proper ‘smart mix’ of both regulatory and voluntary measures in the Danish and EU context.

How:

The discussion will kick off by focusing on the legislative proposal from the EU Commission and the reactions to it from key stakeholders. The conference will bring into play reflections, experiences and viewpoints from a diverse range of relevant stakeholders as well as enable a debate among Danish members of parliament on the role of Denmark in advancing human rights and environmental due diligence including through regulatory and voluntary measures.

Programme:

8.00-8.30 - Coffee and registration

8.30-8.35 - Welcoming remarks by Sara Krüger Falk, Director, the Danish Global Compact Network & Nanna Callisen Bang, Director, The Danish Ethical Trade Initiative

8.35-8.45 Opening statement from Jeppe Kofod, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs (pre-recorded video)

8.45-9.00 Introduction to today’s topic by Elin Wrzoncki, Department Director, Human Rights & Business, The Danish institute for Human Rights

9.00-9.10 Statement from Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice (pre-recorded video)

9.10-9.25 Statement from Lara Wolters, Rapporteur, the European Parliament

9.25-10:15: Mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence – Initial reflections from Danish stakeholders.
Moderator: Gabrielle Holly, Senior Adviser, Danish Institute for Human Rights
Panelists: 

• Marie Gad, Director, Global Development & Sustainablity, Confederation of Danish Industry
• Stine Pilegaard Jespersen, Vice President, the Danish Chamber of Commerce
• Jesper Nielsen, Head of International Department, 3F
• Jakob Kronik, Vice Chair 92-group and International Director, Forests of the World
• Jonas Nøddekær, International Director, DanChurchAid
• Susanne Andersen, Senior Manager, Corporate Responsibility, Arla Foods

10.15-11.15: Perspectives from Danish politicians on the legislative proposal from the EU Commission.
Moderator: Sarah Dieckmann, Advisor, the Danish Ethical Trade Initiative
Politicians:

• Torsten Schack Pedersen (MP), Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, The Liberal Party
• Lisbeth Bech Nielsen (MP), Spokesperson on Business Affairs, The Socialist People’s Party
• Christian Juhl, Enhedslisten (MP), Spokesperson on Development Cooperation, The Red-Green Alliance
• Katrine Olldag, (MP) Spokesperson on European Affairs and Human Rights, The Social liberal party

11.15-11.30: -- Coffee break -- 

11.30-12.00: Rightsholder Perspectives
Keynote and moderation: Johannes Blankenbach, Senior EU/Western Europe Researcher & Representative, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre & Christen Dobson, Senior Programme Manager & Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Rightsholder perspectives from:

• Joan Carling, Founding leader and co-director of Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI)
• Andrew Byaruhanga, Executive Director, Resource Rights Africa

12.00-12.45: -- Lunch --

12.45-13.15: Sustainable Corporate Governance - panel discussion
Moderator: Line Berg, Attorney, Partner Poul Schmith / Kammeradvokaten
Panelists:

• Søren Thor Jensen, Senior Governance Specialist, Novo Nordisk
• Lars Frolov-Hammer, Leading Senior Advisor, Confederation of Danish Industry
• Joachim Kattrup, Sustainable Finance Researcher & Analyst, Action Aid Denmark
• Joanne Houston, EU Policy Officer, Frank Bold

13.15-13.55: Final reflections from Danish stakeholders

Moderator: Gabrielle Holly, Senior Adviser, Danish Institute for Human Rights

Panelists:

• Morten Damkjær Nielsen, Senior Policy Advisor, Danish Agriculture & Food Council
• Jakob Kronik, Vice Chair 92-group and International Director, Forests of the World
• Vibe Klarup, Secretary General, Amnesty International Denmark
• Eva Samuelsson, CSR-manager, Rosendahl Design Group
• Kirstine Lund Christiansen, Head of ESG, Senior Vice President, P+ Pension
• Emily Laura Crawford, Senior Advisor, Social Impact, Maersk

13.55-14.00: Wrap up by Sara Krüger Falk, Director, the Danish Global Compact Network & Nanna Callisen Bang, Director, The Danish Ethical Trade Initiative

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Background:

Denmark has for years been regarded as a frontrunner when it comes to responsible business conduct. In 2009, Denmark was among the first countries to legislate for mandatory non-financial reporting requirements, which paved the way for the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive.

However, it is clear that reporting is not enough to aspire action. A 2019 study of EU company sustainability reporting, including 34 Danish companies, showed that only 22,2 % of companies disclosed information about their human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) processes.

Recognising the need for mandatory measures, the EU Commission has put forward an EU level legislative proposal introducing a mandatory HREDD (mHREDD) law.  There is considerable momentum behind the mHREDD agenda as a number of European countries including France, Germany, Finland, Netherlands as well as Norway, have in the past years adopted or started to consider their own HREDD laws.  

Registration for physical attendance is closed. You can register for online participation here, or contact Sarah Dieckmann, Denne e-mail adresse bliver beskyttet mod spambots. Du skal have JavaScript aktiveret for at vise den..

The conference is organised in a collaboration between DIEH, Amnesty International Denmark, DanChurchAid, Global Compact Network Denmark, TheDanish Institute for Human Rights and The Danish 92 Group.