The UN Forum on Business and Human Rights is, by definition, a gathering of companies and stakeholders that are already committed to advancing responsible business conduct. But in the context of the so-called “ESG backlash,” what strategies are they identifying to sustain—and defend—this work?
UN Working Group member Fernanda Hoppenhaym reminded participants at the 14th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in November 2025 that the UN Guiding Principles assign responsibilities not only to companies but also to states. She noted that governments can help shift the environment by publicly reaffirming their commitments to business and human rights. Later speakers suggested this could include more proactive use of the UN system, such as highlighting progress and challenges in national reports under the Universal Periodic Review or inviting visits and recommendations from UN Special Procedures. To companies themselves, Hoppenhaym urged continued engagement rather than retreat. “Don’t be frozen by the circumstances: be prepared to refine initiatives,” she said.
Boston University Professor Erika George acknowledged a noticeable withdrawal from public-facing DEI reporting among U.S. corporations, citing research from the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance showing that 59 percent of S&P 500 companies have significantly revised or removed DEI-related disclosures from their SEC filings.
Still, the strongest message repeated across sessions was clear: silence is not an option.
“Silence sends a signal,” George said. “It is fight or flight — there has been too much finessing. The balance can tip, and each of us has the ability to help tip the scales.” Speakers emphasized that in the UN context, it bears repeating that diversity — like all human rights — is inalienable. “The laws are the laws, even if the politics are different. All major human rights instruments say discrimination is a breach of human rights,” George added.
Several contributors linked the call to speak out with the corporate responsibility to “know and show” how human-rights commitments are being met, as articulated in the commentary to UN Guiding Principle 21. e.l.f. Beauty was highlighted as one example of a brand choosing to be vocal, publishing a “Not-so-White Paper” to reiterate the importance of its diversity commitments.
Shareholder activism also emerged as an area of momentum. Recent AGM votes at companies such as Apple and Costco showed overwhelming shareholder support for continuing DEI programs.
Investors, too, have a role in strengthening human rights practices. The Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative used the Forum to announce a coordinated “ring the bell” event across participating exchanges in support of LGBT+ rights. While symbolic, the initial participation of 15 exchanges — using their influence and listing rules to encourage DEI action — was described by speakers as a meaningful form of leverage during a challenging period.
In a climate of mounting external criticism, participants also stressed the importance of companies acting together. Coordinated action, they argued, can build “collective courage” and reduce the risk of individual companies being singled out. Calls for bravery were a recurring theme. That call carried a certain poignancy given the setting: the United Nations itself, an institution currently facing a wave of political scrutiny directed at multilateral organizations.
Yet the multistakeholder nature of the UN Forum — drawing governments, companies, and civil-society actors together — also demonstrates the potential for a broader alliance capable of countering today’s increasingly hostile atmosphere toward business and human rights. Many participants saw this as one of the most promising avenues for securing progress.
*This is the first of three articles from Richard Howitt on the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights 2025. The next installment will explore how the Forum addressed debates about the human-rights implications of artificial intelligence and what they mean for business.
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Richard Howitt is a strategic adviser on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Business and Human Rights. He is also a Board member, lecturer at Audencia Business School and host of the Frank Bold ‘Frankly Speaking’ responsible business podcast. Richard was Member of the European Parliament responsible for the EU’s first rules on corporate sustainability reporting and subsequently Chief Executive Officer of the International Integrated Reporting Council.
Published Dec 4, 2025 8am EST / 5am PST / 1pm GMT / 2pm CET