AMMAN — The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from the Government of the Netherlands, on Monday convened a national consultative dialogue on business and human rights.

 

The dialogue provided a platform to discuss national and international frameworks governing business and human rights, including the role of government in enforcing legislation, the responsibility of the private sector to apply human rights due diligence and the shared duty of both sectors to ensure access to effective remedies in line with international standards and best practices.

 

NCHR Board of Trustees Chairperson Samar Al-Hajj Hassan said Jordan is entering a new phase in implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, moving from awareness to systematic implementation.

 

She said Jordan’s economic modernisation drive requires placing human rights at the centre of economic governance, stressing that sustainable development depends on an investment environment that respects human dignity and rights.

 

She added that Jordan aims to position itself as a regional hub for responsible investment, ensuring the inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities in economic activity.

 

She also highlighted Jordan’s participation in the inaugural Business and Human Rights dialogue in Doha in 2024 as a key starting point for national efforts in this field.

 

Al Hajj Hassan also highlighted the launch of a National Baseline Assessment on business and human rights in Jordan, based on the three pillars of the UN Guiding Principles: the State duty to protect, the corporate responsibility to respect through due diligence, and access to effective remedy.

 

She said the assessment would serve as an analytical tool to identify legislative and practical gaps, paving the way for the development of Jordan’s first comprehensive National Action Plan on business and human rights.

 

The chairperson also said that the initiative aligns with the NCHR’s 2026–2030 strategic plan, which reinforces its mandate to ensure compliance with national and international human rights standards.

 

UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan Randa Aboul-Hosn reiterated the organisation’s long-standing partnership with Jordan in strengthening human rights frameworks within economic and development policies.

 

She commended the NCHR’s “A status” accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, describing it as a reflection of its independence and professionalism.

 

Aboul-Hosn also said that the joint project aims to develop a national baseline assessment and roadmap for business and human rights in Jordan, aligned with the UN Guiding Principles.

 

She also noted that Jordan will host the third regional dialogue on business and human rights in Arab countries on June 17–18, providing a platform for exchanging expertise and best practices across the region.

 

She added that UNDP, which has worked in Jordan for over five decades, remains committed to supporting sustainable development, decent work, social justice, and strengthening transparency and accountability in the business environment.

 

Speakers reiterated that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are built on three pillars: the State duty to protect, corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and access to remedy for affected individuals.

 

They stressed the importance of aligning economic and regulatory frameworks with human rights standards, particularly as international momentum grows toward mandatory disclosure and stronger corporate accountability in global supply chains.

 

Participants also explored ways to strengthen national legislative and institutional frameworks to promote responsible business conduct and support the development of Jordan’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

 

They also stressed the importance of enhancing dialogue between government institutions, businesses and civil society to improve governance, address economic opportunities, and align economic policies and practices with international human rights standards, particularly amid growing global trends toward stricter requirements on transparency and supply chains.