Business and Human Rights

Business and Human Rights is an international resource centre on Business and Human Rights. It has published many papers and documents regarding standards and frameworks, and on the role that corporations must play in securing Human Rights around the world.

All of their documents (amongst others) are available at the link on the right.

The organisation has close ties to Professor John G. Ruggie- Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on business & human rights, to the UN Human Rights Council. He has published one document of particular significance in the area entitled: 'Norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights'. The document is a proposed framework to consolidate Human rights through business by three means:

1. Government Policy ('The State's Duty to Protect')
2. Company Policy ('The Corporate Responsibility to Respect')
3. The right to remedy for the harmed ('Access to Remedy')

While this is not yet a signed or agreed charter, it does have significant meaning and may yet be a signpost to future legislation. It also provides excellent guidance for trans-national businesses. The original document from 2003 was formally put to the UN Commission on Human Rights, but was not approved and as a result had "no legal standing". However, the UN continue to work on a framework for international business and Human rights and hope to make this an internationally agreed charter.