In the the fourth session of the FIBS Focus Business & Human Rights training you will learn
- how to manage a human rights crisis
- how to avoid such crisis with diligent supply chain management
When “shit hits the fan” and a human rights scandal hits media or the public, everyone in a company becomes concerned about human rights. Many company executives with global value chains have at least a slight “pain in the stomach” regarding to when a human rights scandal breaks lose for another large company.
Could it happen to us? What have we got hidden in our supply chains? Are we really aware of what’s going on? Are we managing or risks? Are we up next for scrutiny by the NGOs?
Many large corporations, Finnish or multinational companies or brands, have had their share of human rights “scandals” in media, triggered by investigative journalists or human rights defenders. We all know the cost of getting it wrong – financial, legal, reputational and demotivation for employees.
Name, shame and blame gets thrown around and instead of atmosphere of collaboration, fear often governs external relationships. Yet it is the opportunity of a life time to make it right – if only handled as such.
When the crisis breaks, everyone is concerned about human rights and willing to invest capital. Yet in ordinary times it can take two years to get five minutes at the management team meeting to discuss the same topics.
Mattias has assisted at least a dozen companies in managing ethical and human rights “scandals”. He will share his reflections and insights in an interactive fashion and invite the participants to share their own experiences and reflections. He will seek to answer questions including:
- How can we capitalise on crisis management and make real improvements for human rights?
- How do we make top management and the organisation see that the crisis is not only about communication, but really about the underlying human rights issues?
- How can we prepare to make the next scandal into a learning opportunity?
- How can we know when (and where) we are likely to have a human rights “scandal”?
Programme
10.00 Registration, coffee and breakfast
10.15 Welcome to the front page! How to manage a human rights crisis, Mattias Iweborg
Lunch
Integrating human rights due diligence in their supply chain management
5 mistakes not to make in responsible supply chain management, Thomas Trier Hansen
16.00 Session ends
Practicalities
Members sign up for a year to attend all 4 sessions included in this Focus group. The sessions are structured around three main elements: training, inspiration and sharing as well as networking opportunities. Two sessions will be organized during the spring and two in the autumn:
- 20.2. Why an organization such as yours should work strategically, and with a systematic approach to human rights
- 29.5. What works in integrating human rights into company operations and how to best ensure human rights due diligence is being carried out attentively
- chain management
- 11.9. Trends and tools that are currently shaping best practice for human rights reporting, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Human rights agenda
- 3.12. How to manage a human rights crisis and how to avoid such crisis with diligent supply
Speakers
Mattias Iweborg, CEO and CO-Founder, Enact Sustainable Strategies,has worked as an international advisor within the field of responsible business and sustainability for the past 17 years. He has worked actively with business and human rights since 2001, when he and Volvo Cars launched a global diversity initiative together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mattias has since then started a number of international business initiatives on issues such as human rights, among them The Swedish Network for Business and Human Rights.
Thomas Trier Hansen has more than 20 years of professional experience with human rights and labor related issues in the Nordics as well as internationally from working in more than 45 countries in Latin America; Africa; Europe and Asia. He has vast experience with human rights risk mapping and assessments and is regularly carrying out assignments for the EU as an expert on human rights. Thomas is also a member of the GRI stakeholder council and an expert member of the OECD National Contact Point in Denmark.
Further information
Miira Kokkonen, 044 367 3632, miira.kokkonen(at)fibsry.fi
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