An event of the Automotive Industry Dialogue took place on September 27 in Berlin. Representatives from politics, civil society and the private sector met to discuss past and future activities.

The National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP) anchors the responsibility of German companies along supply and value chains. In this way, the action plan contributes to sustainable and social development. The German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) is conducting industry dialogues as part of the implementation of this plan. A central role is played by the automotive industry with its global and complex supply chains, which often cannot be traced back entirely.

For this reason, representatives of the BMAS and other federal ministries as well as civil society and the private sector met at this event to publicly discuss joint approaches to respecting human rights. The results of the dialogue are highly significant, as for the first time, guiding principles for action on due diligence along the supply chain were presented. In the future, joint projects on the raw materials lithium and copper as well as a cross-company grievance mechanism are to be implemented, among other things.

Partnerships2030 was also represented at the event to place the Automotive Industry Dialogue in the context of other processes and partnerships. Particularly when it comes to the topic of supply chains in the automotive industry, it is important to note how complex supply chains and the relationships of the many global actors along the chain are. The exchange therefore offers the opportunity to build up a mutual understanding outside one’s own “bubble” and brings in new perspectives on approaches to solutions.