In today’s constantly changing world, there are new social challenges every day that range from forced labour, to large scale conflicts which are directly linked to human rights abuses. Now, more than ever, business are being asked to make their own contribution to resolving these issues. In some cases, business may even have a legal obligation. The realisation that companies must not only respect human rights but actively protect and promote it has not yet been fully taken on board. However, there are companies already taking the lead and committing themselves to respecting human rights as part of their sustainability strategy.
Companies can start by understanding the link between its business and human rights by using the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights Framework to develop their own human rights policy, create internal procedures for impact assessment, carry out due diligence, reduce identified risks, set up a grievance mechanism and report specifically on human rights.
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world……All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
We can help you:
- understand human rights (particularly for women and children) and how to use:
- the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and its reporting framework
- the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, and
- the UN Children’s Rights and Business Principles
- assess if you comply with human rights regulations and legal requirements, and with international standards such as UN Global Compact and the UNGPs – i.e. your company policies, regulatory or legal obligations, industry codes, and voluntary codes, and identify areas for improvement.
- conduct an assessment of how your companies impact human rights and suggest ways of reducing any identified risk
- develop human rights policies and related mechanisms, such as an integrated due diligence process
- Compliance to a supply chain code of conduct and international standards
- Understand the supply chain’s impact on human rights
Compliance to a supply chain code of conduct and international standards
Challenge: The client would like to improve its monitoring mechanism to make sure it complies with its supply chain’s code of conduct, and to identify potential risks, such as child labour and serious health and safety concerns in its supply chain
Solution: Assessment of current measures, the level of compliance and multiple un-announced, on-site visits to gauge the supply chain’s compliance.
Results: Currently still in-process
Understand the supply chain’s impact on human rights
Challenge: The client would like to have a better understanding of how its current supply chain impacts upon human rights and the local community
Solution: Assessment of current measures and unannounced on-site visits to understand the supply chain’s operations and its impact on human rights
Results: Currently still in-process
