18 September  |  15:30-16:00 ICT

How can engagement with rights holders help close accountability gaps?

Organized by:

• Japan Center for Engagement & Remedy on Business and Human Rights

• Global Compact Network Japan

Background

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In the field of business and human rights, the term “accountability gap” describes situations where companies are expected to take responsibility for their adverse human rights impacts but, for various reasons, fail to do so. This gap often arises from the lack of effective mechanisms to hold businesses accountable, especially in complex global supply chains where rights holders’ voices are easily marginalized. Bridging this accountability gap is critical to ensuring that companies respect human rights in practice, not just in policy.

This session will examine how engagement and dialogue between companies and rights holders can play a pivotal role in closing the accountability gap. Drawing on analysis of more than 230 reports in three years submitted to the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER), the discussion will highlight key patterns and lessons learned from these cases. This session will provide valuable insights into how grievance mechanisms can serve as platforms for affected stakeholders to raise concerns and for companies to respond meaningfully.

Three core themes will structure the session:

1.) The role of grievance mechanisms in facilitating genuine engagement and trust-building.

2.) The motivations and incentives that drive companies to respond to grievances and take accountability for their actions.

3.) The challenges and barriers that still prevent effective engagement and remedy.

By exploring these themes, the session aims to shed light on practical approaches for companies to strengthen their human rights due diligence and for rights holders to access remedies. It will also consider the broader implications for building a culture of accountability in Japan and beyond, where dialogue can serve not only to resolve individual cases, but also to prevent future harm and foster systemic change.

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Key Objectives

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• Better understanding of grievance mechanisms as a way to close the accountability gap.

• Insights into how to engage effectively through grievance mechanisms.

• Greater understanding of how various grievance mechanisms operate in relation to accountability gaps.

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Format

Dialogue-based.

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The session will be conducted in a dialogue format between the Representative Director of JaCER and a representative from the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct. After providing a brief overview of each organization and their respective roles, both panelists will engage with one another by posing 2–3 questions to their counterpart. This interactive approach is designed to foster a dynamic discussion and provide participants with deeper insights into each organization’s perspectives and initiatives.

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Session Partners