MARRAKECH, Morocco — His Excellency Joseph F. Johnson, Liberia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, participated in the Arab-African Forum on “Business and Human Rights: Towards a Regional Dialogue for a Responsible Economy that Respects Human Rights,” held in Marrakech from June 24–25, 2025.
The conference was organized by Morocco’s Inter-Ministerial Delegation for Human Rights, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business and Employment Skills; the National Human Rights Council; and international organizations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The forum brought together high-level speakers and panelists, including ambassadors, government officials, and human rights experts. Discussions focused on aligning economic activity with the protection of human rights within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Panel discussions underscored the importance of national conditions and legal frameworks in ensuring respect for human rights in business practices. Participants emphasized the need for national action plans (NAPs) as key tools for integrating international norms into domestic laws, policies, and socio-economic development strategies.
As of early 2024, four African countries — Kenya (2021), Uganda (2021), Nigeria (2023), and Liberia (2024) — have formally adopted National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights. Several others, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and Zambia, are currently in various stages of development and stakeholder engagement.
Ambassador Johnson’s participation highlighted Liberia’s active role in regional dialogue on responsible business practices and its commitment to advancing human rights in economic development.