Ensuring the presence of business in conflict zones does not lead to further violence is a complicated challenge that no individual business, or State, can achieve alone. A growing number of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) involving private sector, civil society and government representatives have been developed in recent years in response to this challenge. Are these initiatives helping reduce violence, lessen the humanitarian impact and promote respect for human rights? Are businesses and States doing enough to ensure MSIs work as intended? What are the lessons to be learned in how such efforts should be developed and implemented as some key MSIs reach maturity? This event will launch Volume 94, Number 887 of the ICRC’s journal the International Review of the Red Cross on Business, violence and conflict.