I welcome you to this important consultation on business and human rights. It is the first time a multi-stakeholder consultation on this topic is convened at the request of the Human Rights Council. This is an indication that the issue of business and human rights has evolved significantly and is gaining commensurate attention...[L]ast year [Professor John Ruggie] presented a policy framework for business and human rights to the Human Rights Council... Our discussion over the next two days will focus on how to operationalize this framework and provide input to the Special Representative’s work as he moves into the final phase of his mandate. This is an important task.