Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice III

1. Key Data
Origin of the Initiative	UN Global Compact (UNGC) Office, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Year of Development	2009
Accessibility	Free
Availability	Free
Language	English
Contact	Ursula Wynhoven, wynhoven@un.org
Website	http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/human_rights/Resources/EHRBIII.pdf

2. Aim and Function of the Tool
Type	General Guidance
Specific Focus	General
Aim	The third volume Embedding Human Rights III builds on and reinforces the ideas of Embedding Human Rights I and II. 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. All case studies in the third volume underwent peer review before publication.
Function	Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice III offers detailed examples of what businesses are doing to implement human rights within their own operations and spheres of influence. The third volume of Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice includes eight case studies detailing the experiences of companies in a diverse array of sectors operating in all corners of the world. The companies whose practices are the subject of case studies in this volume are OMV, Ford and Cadbury, ASN, Endesa, Lexmark, Xstrata, and Engro Chemical. In particular, this volume looks at both (1) higher-order principles and rationales that lie behind a company's engagement with human rights and (2) on the-ground implementation. In terms of the former, the case studies in this volume pose and respond to questions like: What is the business case for proactive human rights policies and practices? How does a business determine the scope or the boundaries of its human rights responsibilities as related to its particular operations? What does complicity in human rights abuse mean, in practical terms, for a business? Beyond these higher level questions, this volume also explores more concrete issues regarding on-the-ground application and implementation of human rights policies. For example, this volume asks: What strategies and approaches are the most effective in managing human rights risks and realizing business opportunities from supporting human rights? How can companies ensure that respect for human rights is incorporated into day-today business practices? How can employee awareness of human rights be sharpened and behaviour changed where necessary? What can a company do to improve its stakeholder relations on human rights and what are the challenges and opportunities associated with multi-stakeholder dialogue?
Monitoring	No
Target Group	Companies, non-governmental organisations/civil society, academics

3. Practicability and Flexibility
Business Sector	All sectors
Region	All regions
Company Size	Medium Large
Case Studies/Good Practice	Yes
Interactivity	No. The Guide is conceived as a resource book.
Human Rights Knowledge Required	No
Flexibility	The Guide is conceived as a learning and resource publication. It cannot be flexibly adapted to the individual company situation. Companies may however adjust the outlined strategies to their case.

4. Normative Framework
Human 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 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Labour Rights	ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy
National Laws	Compliance with national laws and regulations in the country of operation.

5. Scope of the Tool

Human Rights

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

Keywords

Armed groups
Child labour
Compensation
Conflict
Corruption and bribery
Discrimination
Diversity / equal opportunities
Environment
Forced and bonded labour
Freedom of assembly and association
Freedom of expression / - of the press / access to information
Health and wellbeing
Monitoring / auditing
Property / intellectual property
Remuneration
Resettlement / land management
Safety
Security forces and arrangements
Social investment
Supply chain management
Torture
Training, skills and talent
Transparency / disclosure
Women's rights
Working conditions
Young workers

6. Company Responsibility
Concepts of Sphere of Influence, Complicity	Yes. The Guide is based on these principles, for detailed explanation refer to Embedding I.
Supply Chain	Yes
Human Rights Impact Assessment	Yes
Specific Guidance on Individual(Company)Responsibility	No

8. Concluding Evaluation

LARRGE Evaluation

Embedding Human Rights III offers 8 new case studies (see above) that complete and deepen the human rights issues covered by the first two volumes.

Again this publication contains no theoretical and analytical chapters but focuses specifically on detailed case experiences. Users are given the unique opportunity to learn from various approaches and to benefit form successful strategies and lessons learned. Together the three volumes of Embedding Human Rights provide the biggest and most detailed and compilation of CSR case studies, which have collected key expertise from all over the world.

User Evaluation

Files
	Embedding_Human_Rights_III.pdf Evaluation_francaise_-_Embedding_HR_in_Business_Practice_III.pdf

Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II

Table of Contents

Guide for Integrating Human Rights into Business Management