United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
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The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are a set of internationally recognised guidelines that provide a framework for preventing and addressing the adverse human rights impacts of business activities. They were endorsed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2011 and have since become a widely accepted reference point for governments, businesses, and civil society organisations. The UNGPs are based on three pillars:
The state duty to protect: According to this pillar, states have a responsibility to protect human rights from abuses by third parties, including businesses. This involves ensuring that laws and regulations are in place to prevent human rights violations, promoting business respect for human rights, and providing access to effective remedies for those affected by business-related human rights abuses.
The corporate responsibility to respect: This pillar emphasises that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights throughout their operations. This means they should avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and address any such impacts that may arise. Businesses are expected to implement human rights due diligence processes to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for their human rights impacts.
Access to remedy: The UNGPs emphasise the importance of providing access to effective remedy for individuals and communities affected by business-related human rights abuses. States are encouraged to ensure that their legal systems provide access to justice and effective remedies, both judicial and non-judicial, for victims of human rights violations involving business activities.
The UNGPs provide guidance for various stakeholders:
Governments: The UNGPs call upon governments to develop and implement policies, legislation, and enforcement mechanisms that promote business respect for human rights. They are also encouraged to provide guidance and support to businesses in meeting their human rights responsibilities.
Businesses: The UNGPs urge businesses to conduct human rights due diligence, which involves assessing and addressing their human rights impacts throughout their value chains. They are expected to adopt policies, processes, and grievance mechanisms that respect human rights and provide remedies for any adverse impacts.
Civil society: Civil society organisations play a critical role in promoting human rights and holding both governments and businesses accountable. The UNGPs recognise the importance of their engagement in raising awareness, monitoring human rights impacts, and advocating for change.
The UNGPs have had a significant impact on shaping corporate behaviour and promoting the integration of human rights into business practices. They have prompted many companies to develop human rights policies, conduct impact assessments, and establish grievance mechanisms. Additionally, the UNGPs have encouraged governments to strengthen legal frameworks and enhance accountability for human rights abuses involving business activities.
The state duty to protect: According to this pillar, states have a responsibility to protect human rights from abuses by third parties, including businesses. This involves ensuring that laws and regulations are in place to prevent human rights violations, promoting business respect for human rights, and providing access to effective remedies for those affected by business-related human rights abuses.
The corporate responsibility to respect: This pillar emphasises that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights throughout their operations. This means they should avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and address any such impacts that may arise. Businesses are expected to implement human rights due diligence processes to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for their human rights impacts.
Access to remedy: The UNGPs emphasise the importance of providing access to effective remedy for individuals and communities affected by business-related human rights abuses. States are encouraged to ensure that their legal systems provide access to justice and effective remedies, both judicial and non-judicial, for victims of human rights violations involving business activities.
The UNGPs provide guidance for various stakeholders:
Governments: The UNGPs call upon governments to develop and implement policies, legislation, and enforcement mechanisms that promote business respect for human rights. They are also encouraged to provide guidance and support to businesses in meeting their human rights responsibilities.
Businesses: The UNGPs urge businesses to conduct human rights due diligence, which involves assessing and addressing their human rights impacts throughout their value chains. They are expected to adopt policies, processes, and grievance mechanisms that respect human rights and provide remedies for any adverse impacts.
Civil society: Civil society organisations play a critical role in promoting human rights and holding both governments and businesses accountable. The UNGPs recognise the importance of their engagement in raising awareness, monitoring human rights impacts, and advocating for change.
The UNGPs have had a significant impact on shaping corporate behaviour and promoting the integration of human rights into business practices. They have prompted many companies to develop human rights policies, conduct impact assessments, and establish grievance mechanisms. Additionally, the UNGPs have encouraged governments to strengthen legal frameworks and enhance accountability for human rights abuses involving business activities.
