On February 20, 2017, the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) hosted an expert workshop on Advancing the Business and Human Rights Agenda through the G20 and G7. 

This event brought together a group of international experts on business and human rights (BHR) to explore how best to use the German G20 presidency in particular – but also the G20 and G7 more generally – to push for goals BHR goals. The meeting was an opportunity to reexamine the nature of these informal government groupings, how they have worked in the past, and what they are capable of achieving. It also sought to provide a platform from which to conceive and develop concrete ideas for cooperative work for the German G20 presidency and for longer-term cooperation around the G20 and G7.

In preparation for this meeting, ICAR and DIMR produced a background document on the structure and functioning of the G20, its engagement groups, and key German priorities and dates for the 2017 G20 presidency. This document, available here, can serve as a useful tool for those interested in learning more about or engaging in the G20 process.