HLPF 2024: Ensuring No One is Left Behind: The Role of Corporate Actions

 

 

At the 2024 UN High-Level Political Forum, I had the privilege of moderating a roundtable on “Ensuring No One is Left Behind: The Role of Corporate Actions.” The discussion brought together voices from governments, the UN, civil society, trade unions, and business to explore how corporate accountability can deliver real social impact.

Our starting point was clear: the World Benchmarking Alliance’s 2024 Social Benchmark shows that 90% of the world’s most influential companies are not even halfway to meeting fundamental expectations on human rights, decent work, and ethical conduct. Only 4% commit to paying a living wage, and just 3% extend that to their supply chains. The gap between promises and practice is wide and closing it is essential to achieving the SDGs’ promise to leave no one behind.

Speakers like Prof. Surya Deva (Special Rapporteur on Right to Development) and Ambassador Paula Narváez (2024 ECOSOC Chair) reminded us that we need a course correction in how we view growth—moving towards inclusive, participatory, and planet-centred development. We heard calls to bridge silos: between Geneva and New York, between business & human rights, SDGs and climate, and between diverse stakeholder groups.

From UNDP and ITUC-Africa, we heard the case for stronger regulations on human rights due diligence, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and a new social contract built on fair wages, collective bargaining, and decent work. Government representatives from Uganda, Finland, and Belgium underlined the role of data, benchmarking, and due diligence laws like the EU CSDDD in driving systemic change. Business voices acknowledged the importance of social issues but called for level playing fields and enabling environments.

For me, the key takeaway is that corporate action must go beyond statements, it needs to embed accountability into daily practice, link with national and global policy frameworks, and focus on tangible outcomes for workers, communities, and the environment.

This roundtable was a step towards building the bridges we need, across sectors, geographies, and agendas, to ensure that no one is left behind in the global economy.