Minister of International Development and Human Rights Ms. Hilde F. Johnson

Closing remarks at "Social Responsibility and Human Rights"

Lagos, Nigeria, 16 February 2000

Ladies and gentlemen,

Norway and Nigeria may be neighbours in the United Nations – and we do look forward to sitting together in the Human Rights Commission of the UN this year – but we are in many ways as far apart as our geography implies. Yet, this afternoon has shown that we can benefit from sharing experiences and views. We are, after all, two relatively young sovereign states -- Norway has yet to celebrate the 100 ^th> anniversary of full independence -- but our peoples have long and strong traditions.

I would like to offer some closing remarks. I wish I could provide you with a comprehensive yet concise summing-up of our discussion. In light of the many varied and excellent contributions that have been made to the debate, I would not do justice to the debate if I were to try. Besides, I’m not providing you with any opportunity for rebuttals or corrections! Let me instead offer some of my own views on issues that have surfaced during the debate.

The Norwegian Prime Minister opened this afternoon, emphasising the role that human rights and respect for human dignity plays for his Government. To me, it is clear that, at this start of the third millennium, we should not look upon human rights as a legacy from the second. Human rights provide future generations with a foundation of universal values, a code of conduct.

Last year, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged the business community to engage in "a global compact of shared values and principles". This universal code - this compact - is a call for to action, to all of us. It should be the hallmark of today’s globality.

An underlying element in our deliberations has been the fear that human rights impose a form of conditionality on business or development cooperation. Who’s to say they don’t? In some cases, that may very well be so. And legitimately so.

Furthermore, I hope we soon will be able to reach a point where respect for – and promotion of – human rights is not a question of offering a competitive advantage or disadvantage; it is simply a part of doing business. Accountable business.

So, how do we translate this vision into reality? How do we get from here to there?

• We get there through active governmental engagement – on the home front as well as abroad. The Norwegian Government is developing policies which already has brought us in close contact with other partners and governments, in order to pursue the international agenda. This includes a policy to promote business development in the least developed countries, as well as a range of measures in a National Plan of Action for Human Rights. We hope this action plan will make a difference in terms of competence and capacity building, as well as in terms of generating policy initiatives for the coming five years.

• We get there through responsible corporate decision-making, as regards both where to invest abroad, with whom to trade and how to conduct a presence in foreign markets. Here, a constructive dialogue with the government is important. Gross and systematic violations of human rights in a given country where there is no possibility for dialogue, should generally lead private companies not to engage in or pursue substantial commercial ties with the country concerned.

• We get there through partnership with civil society. Your activism, your alertness and your experience will be instrumental for the flow of information on human rights policies and practices. Your dedication will be key in moving this agenda forward.

• We get there through the targeted and persistent efforts of the Trade Unions, and through the constructive engagement from the employers’ side. The need to operationalise responsibility - to make human rights a practical criterion on the shop floor, and in the boardrooms - is crucial.

• We get there, first and foremost, by working together. The Consultative Body for Human Rights and Norwegian Economic Engagement Abroad (KOMpakt, for short ) was established by our Government in order to bring business leaders, employees, NGOs, academic institutions and government together in order to explore each other’s roles, understand each other’s points of view, and improve our overall human rights record. In our striving to live up to our respective responsibilities in the new globalised world, we hope that this environment will generate ideas and proposals, useful to all of the five constituents.

….….

The many and engaged statements this afternoon have substantiated the sense that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is not just an objective in its own right. It is a key to progress.

We often underestimate the indispensable contribution that fulfilment of this objective can make towards achieving other key goals of ours. Respect for human rights contributes to building peace and to advancing human development. For the benefit of all.

I believe this afternoon's discussion illustrates that practising corporate social responsibility - and promoting human rights - is a ‘win-win’ proposition.

And that – by any standard – is good business.