Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II

UN Global Compact (UNGC) Office, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

2007

Free

Free

English

Ursula Wynhoven,  wynhoven@un.org

 http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/news_events/8.1/EHRBPII_Final.pdf

General Guidance

General

The second volume Embedding Human Rights II builds on and reinforces the idea of Embedding Human Rights I. It is equally conceived as a learning and resource book on the implementation of the two Global Compact principles.

The aims of the series are: (1) to help demonstrate the relevance of human rights for business everywhere; (2) to help es­tablish the business case for human rights; and (3) to inspire businesses all over the world to raise the level of their human rights performance.

Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II explores the practical application of the principles using case studies. It offers detailed examples of what businesses from all over the world are doing to implement human rights within their own operations and spheres of influence, and how they are doing it.

It includes twenty case studies about the experiences of the following companies: ABB, Achilles, Anglogold Ashanti, AREVA, Asocolflores, Barloworld, BASF, Eskom, İpek Kağıt, Ketchum, MAS Holdings, Newmont, NIKE, Novartis, Sasol, Shell, Star­bucks, Titan, Volkswagen and Westpac.

The questions and issues explored in the second volume include:

• What is the business case for adopting a proactive approach in dealing with human rights issues?
• How can companies formulate comprehensive human rights policies, and what are the benefits of doing so?
• What are the boundaries of a company's human rights responsibilities?
• What are the success factors for integration of human rights concerns into business practices?
• What methodologies are available to decide if and how to operate in a country with weak governance and/or serious human rights concerns?
• What are the risks, challenges and opportunities in engaging in multi-stakeholder dialogue?
• What are examples of strategies for more effectively tackling human rights issues in the supply chain?

Each case study addresses one or more areas in the Human Rights Management Framework: Getting started, strat­egy, policy, processes and procedures, communications, training, measuring impact and auditing, and reporting. An index indicates which areas are addressed in each case study.

No

Companies, non-governmental organisations/civil society, academics

All sectors

All regions

Medium

Large

Yes

No. The Guide is conceived as a resource book.

No

The Guide is conceived as a learning and resource document. It cannot be flexibly adapted to the individual company situation. Companies may however adjust the outlined strategies to their case.

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• UN Draft Norms on the Responsibility of TNCs and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights
• UN Global Compact
• Universal Declaration on Human Rights

ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy

Compliance with national laws and regulations in the country of operation.

Productive and freely chosen work

Right to work

Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour

Prohibition of child labour

Rights at work including the core labour standards

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination between women and men, gender issues

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination concerning all other groups

Diversity Management

Right to education

Right to safe and healthy working conditions

Right to fair wages

Right to equal pay for equal work

Right to decent living

Right to rest, leisure and annual leave

Right to reasonable limitation of working hours

Right to permanent employment relationship

Right to privacy

Right to strike

Right to form and join trade unions

Grievance procedures and remediation

Social protection

Right to social security including social insurance, pensions

Mitigation of adverse employment effects

Social dialogue

Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining

Tripartite consultation

External impact

Right to an adequate standard of living

Security issues, private property protection

Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

• Capacity / capability building
• Child labour
• Collective bargaining
• Compensation
• Conflict
• Corporate- / organisational culture
• Data protection and privacy
• Discrimination
• Diversity / equal opportunities
• Environment
• Forced and bonded labour
• Freedom of assembly and association
• Freedom of movement (e.g. passport withholding)
• Health and wellbeing
• Indigenous peoples
• Local communities
• Monitoring / auditing
• Property / intellectual property
• Recruitment and employment practices
• Remuneration
• Social investment
• Stakeholder engagement
• Supply chain management
• Trafficking in human beings
• Training, skills and talent
• Transparency / disclosure
• Women's rights
• Workers' representation
• Working conditions

Yes. The Guide is based on these principles, for detailed explanation refer to Embedding I.

Yes

Yes

No

Embedding Human Rights II expands and continues the idea of Embedding I. This publication contains no theoretical and analytical background but focuses specifically on 20 in-depth case studies (see above). The case studies further complete the range of human rights studies addressed by the first Guide. Users are given the unique opportunity to learn from various approaches and to benefit form successful strategies and lessons learned.

Embedding_Human_Rights_II.pdf
Evaluation_francaise_-_Embedding_HR_in_Business_Practice_II.pdf