Every belief community has its fetishes. I do not use the term in its now old fashioned and dismissive form. Rather the term is used in its more ancient sense "from the Portuguese "charm, sorcery, allurement," noun use of an adjective meaning "artificial"(etymology HERE) and in its even more ancient sense of the Latin facere to make something. And in this case to make something that is a representation of something else. The making of objects that represent other objects that themselves may embody objectives redolent with meaning, purpose, or the essence of a way of approaching the world, has become a common element of the secularized religious dialogue among advanced states and their international instrumentalities.
More importantly, perhaps, than the making of the object and its investment with representation and meaning, may be the ceremonies built around the object and its trans-objectification as the incarnation of belief in and the shape of the spirit of the community for which the fetish becomes meaning. Indeed, the ceremonialization of the fetish itself elevates the ritual itself into a fetish in its own right--one that then breaths life into the object that is made and that serves as a representation of the essence of the desires or self imaginary of the participants.
Layers of objectivization then may be fused through and animated by the ceremonies around which their layered incarnations may be activated. That activation presumes both expressions of fidelity to the content and form of the fetish, and a renewed internalization of its meaning now transposed into the bodies of the faithful. So: something is made (facere) which is understood as artificial but which by its making can contain (represent) other objects (and thus its power as a "charm", and its "magick"--it assumes its layered forms as feitiço) the power of which can only be accessed through the ceremonials of the community that has invested its resources and faith in the making of the object and which by its ceremonies has breathed life into the thing.
There is nothing grand about this--despite the lofty language. One invests knowledge with the power of the fetish through the creation of a essay (for example) that when published in a journal becomes a fetish--the ceremonies attendant on its selection, publication and then use by reference to the casket (the status and authority of the publication vessel itself) becomes the representation of the power of the knowledge conveyed--a power that need not be accessed directly (one does not read the essay, one merely glows in the power that it represents through the vessel in which it is contained). And on this is an academic community of the faithful built, operated, disciplined, and institutionalized in its worship of the fetish as a representation of knowledge that is itself .
It is only with this firmly in mind that one can, with a fresh and dispassionate view, approach the marvelously well appreciated announcement of the august ceremonial event that is the The Berlin Dialogue on Business and Human Rights, to be held online 18 May 2021. Organized by the German Federal Foreign Office, speakers include German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and Swedish Minister of Trade Anna Hallberg, and many more august personalities. It is one of the many ceremonies that are meant to activate the great fetish object--the Human Rights and Business National Action Plans, which themselves are the representation of another object--the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights--the 10th Anniversary of endorsement of which is to be celebrated as a time for renewed commitment, expressions of fidelity, and a greater effort to develop a binding orthodoxy around its manifestation in economic activity and internalization in enterprises (but unhappily not by states; my discussion here: Moving Forward the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights: Between Enterprise Social Norm, State Domestic Legal Orders, and the Treaty Law That Might Bind Them All).
And thus this from the event organizers:
In June, we will mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). They are the globally agreed framework for the respective duties and responsibilities of states and businesses to safeguard human rights in economic activities. In their first decade the UNGPs have provided a common platform for action and accountability, and inspired uptake by a range of actors. A number of states have developed national action plans and a smart mix of measures to realize the UNGPs. A first generation of action plans is being reviewed and updated and we are witnessing growing international momentum for mandatory human rights due diligence for business enterprises. At the same time, the urgent need to step up action for protecting and respecting human rights in business activities in all regions and across global supply chains is painfully visible.
Welcome to the Berlin Dialogue on Business and Human Rights
VALUES | OPENNESS | PARTNERSHIPS
We invite you to join us on 18 May 2021 in a virtual exchange with distinguished speakers from
many regions of the world.
Speakers include German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the ILO Director-General Guy Ryder and Swedish Minister of Trade Anna Hallberg, and many more.
The Berlin Dialogue is organized by the German Federal Foreign Office.
#bizhumanrights #BerlinDialogueBHR
In June, we will mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
They are the globally agreed framework for the respective duties and
responsibilities of states and businesses to safeguard human rights in
economic activities. In their first decade the UNGPs have provided a
common platform for action and accountability, and inspired uptake by a
range of actors.
A number of states have developed national action
plans and a smart mix of measures to realize the UNGPs. A first
generation of action plans is being reviewed and updated and we are
witnessing growing international momentum for mandatory human rights due
diligence for business enterprises.
At the same time, the urgent
need to step up action for protecting and respecting human rights in
business activities in all regions and across global supply chains is
painfully visible.
VALUES | OPENNESS | PARTNERSHIPS
Our universal values must be the foundation of a sustainable globalization which leaves no-one behind and ensures a level playing field.
A rules-based economic order of openness continues to be a cornerstone for peace and prosperity. This requires a reliable compass: human rights.
In the face of global challenges, partnerships for responsibility are key to realizing respect for people and planet.
The event will be held in English without interpretation. Viewers will have the possibility to send in questions and comments during the event.
Questions concerning the Berlin Dialogue can be e-mailed to the event team: bhr@diplo.de. Registration is solely possible through the online registration tool on this website.
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