56th session of UNHRC periodic review balancing event held successfully

International Probono Legal Services Association Limited and Justice for All International co-organized the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council periodic review balancing event entitled Human Rights and Entrepreneurs at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on July 5, 2024. In addition to the representatives of the organizers, Junius Ho and Sharof Azizov, the events invited experts and entrepreneurs for discussion. The guest speakers were, in order of speaking:

1. Prof. Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (video presentation)
2. Mr. Junius Ho, Founder of the International Probono Legal Services Association Limited
3. Mr. Livingstone Otineo Onyango, Entrepreneur, Kenya (video presentation)
4. Mr. Sharof Azizov, Founder of Justice for All International
5. Ms. Alena Bekker, Entrepreneur, Germany
6. Mr. Alexander Peake, journalist, self-media blogger and Swiss entrepreneur
7. Mr. Jacky Chan, The Ombudsman, HKSAR Government (video presentation)

Prof. Alena Douhan said that businesses are afraid to engage in international trade with sanctioned countries, and that every country needs to ensure that its business activities can continue and that trade in humanitarian goods, including food and medicine, is not affected by any form of unilateral sanctions. At the same time, she called for the removal of all unilateral sanctions that violate international law.

Mr. Junius Ho reminded the international community that the social unrest in Hong Kong in 2019 was manipulated by hostile forces, which subsequently triggered a series of unilateral sanctions imposed by the US on Hong Kong as an irrational means to achieve political ends. Under these sanctions, some of Hong Kong's financial institutions were forced to withdraw, but Hong Kong was able to overcome the difficulties thanks to the strong support of the Central Government. Citing the speech of Prof. Alena Douhan, Mr. Ho pointed out that sanctions should not be used lightly, otherwise, it would go against the UN Charter's objective of encouraging peaceful co-existence among different countries.

Mr. Livingstone Otineo Onyango from Kenya was worried about the future of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in his country. Demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 have seriously affected the survival of SMEs, with rioters looting and burning down shops, but SMEs have not been adequately protected by the government, and countless employees, suppliers, consumers, and communities are facing the risk of economic collapse.

The German government has arbitrarily interpreted the provisions of the law on sanctions to unjustifiably prosecute and punish the company, resulting in serious economic losses and unilateral sanctions that are clearly in violation of international law and human rights norms, Ms. Alena Bekker said.

Mr. Sharof Azizov said that the erosion of corporate rights has always been the most urgent human rights concern, and that unilateral sanctions can lead to serious consequences, especially for SMEs. The consequences could lead to loss of ownership and economic instability, directly destroying innovation and business prospects.

According to Mr. Alexander Peake of Switzerland, entrepreneurs often face disproportionate legal burdens, a lack of financial support, and political and economic instability, which directly affects the revitalization of their businesses; in the case of German SMEs, for example, surveys have found that as many as 266,000 businesses, or 7 percent of all businesses in the country, will close down by the end of 2025, which is a worrying situation. This pessimistic trend is due to a number of reasons, including excessive regulation, political sanctions and economic challenges. About political sanctions, he concluded that addressing unequal human rights norms for businesses requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, with the government stepping up measures to protect businesses, a balanced legislative framework, and the integration of international human rights standards, among other things.

The Ombudsman, Mr. Jacky Chan, congratulated the success of this balancing exercise and stressed that quality, fairness, transparency and commitment to public service are the foundations for the sustainable and stable development of every society in the world, a discourse supported by Hong Kong's success in overcoming the difficulties of recent years.