12th session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group elaborating a legally binding instrument on business and human rights (12-16 Oct 2026)
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The 12th session of the UN open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (IGWG) to discuss the draft binding treaty will take place on 12-16 October 2026 at the UN in Geneva.
The session was scheduled to take place on 19-23 October 2026, but a change of dates was announced in July 2026.
The draft programme of work is available here.
Ahead of the session, and in accordance with the 2026 roadmap issued by the Chair-Rapporteur, the following intersessional thematic consultations have taken place:
- 1st thematic consultation: 7-8 April, focusing on Articles 12 to 24. See non-paper on those articles here.
- 2nd thematic consultation: 9-10 April, focusing on Articles 1 (Definitions), 2 (Statement of Purpose) and 3 (Scope). See non-paper on those articles here.
- 3rd thematic consultation: 28-29 May, focusing on Article 1 (Definitions), Preamble and a general overview of the text and the way forward. See non paper on Article 1 here.