UN Human Rights Standards for Business
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Irene Khan launching the UN Norms booklet at the WSF, Jan 2004, Mumbai, India © AI |
UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights publishes his second report
John Ruggie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Business and Human Rights, presented his second report to the UN Human Rights Council on 28 March, 2007. Amnesty International, together with other international NGOs, presented a joint oral statement at this session, and asked the Special Representative about his plans to analyse corporate abuses and their impact on individuals and communities, as well as to integrate the perspective of victims into his programme of work.
John Ruggie was appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on business and human rights in July 2005, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Commission The Special Representative has been mandated to identify standards of corporate accountability for businesses; elaborate on the role of states in effectively regulating the role of business, including through international cooperation; research and clarify concepts such as 'complicity' and 'sphere of influence'; develop materials and methodologies for undertaking human rights impact assessments of business activities; and compile a compendium of best practices of states and businesses.
Human rights organizations have addressed concerns to businesses for a number of years. Recognizing that economic globalization has expanded the reach of corporate power, advocates have struggled to ensure that companies, no less than other significant actors, are brought within the framework of international human rights rules. A significant step in this direction was taken in August 2003 by the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights when it approved the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights (also known as UN Norms for Business or UN Norms).
The Norms restate existing internationally recognized standards of human rights. They set out in a comprehensive way the key human rights responsibilities of companies. In doing so, they create a powerful tool for advocacy and at the same time provide a useful checklist for those companies keen to improve their human rights record. Some companies have already showed willingness to "road test" the application of the UN Norms during their business operations.
To find out more about the UN Norms, read Amnesty International's publication The UN Human Rights Norms for Business: Towards Legal Accountability (PDF).
Look at case studies where the UN Norms can help corporate actors to identify their human rights responsibilities:
Clouds of injustice: Bhopal disaster 20 years on
Nigeria: Are Human Rights in the Pipeline?
Further Information
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