By Richard Onapatum
The Ministry of Gender, labour and social development is in the process of developing a Management Information System on Business and Human rights to enhance reporting of human rights violations by businesses.
Betty Amongi who is incharge of the docket, says there is a plan to give awards to businesses performing well in respect for human rights to ensure that businesses continue to respect human rights as they operate.
Minister Amongi was officially opening the 6th Annual Symposium on Business and Human Rights in Uganda at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Monday.
The conference brings together Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector Players/ Business Community and Development Partners to a round table discussion for the purposes of ensuring human rights protection in the conduct of business activities.
The symposium focuses on pillar II of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The aim is to strengthen business enterprises’ positive contributions to implementing the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and other human rights standards and principles enshrined in the new and emerging national, regional and international frameworks.
“While business enterprises remain a strong partner in advancing respect for human rights in Uganda, empirical evidence shows gaps compromising their abilities to deliver positive outcomes,” she added.
She says it includes inadequate business and human rights capacities and tools among businesses and limited innovations to ensure effective respect for human rights in business operations.