Resources
Links
UNITED NATIONS
United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) “has a mandate to lead the business and human rights agenda within the United Nations system, and, in collaboration with the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, to develop guidance and training relating to the dissemination and implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/BusinessIndex.aspx
The Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises (also referred to as the Working Group on Business and Human Rights) was established by the Human Rights Council in 2011. It consists of five independent experts. Its mission includes promoting “the effective and comprehensive dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework”
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx
The UN Forum on business and human rights (UN Forum) “is the world’s largest annual gathering on business and human rights with more than 2,000 participants from government, business, community groups and civil society, law firms, investor organisations, UN bodies, national human rights institutions, trade unions, academia and the media.”
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Forum/Pages/ForumonBusinessandHumanRights.aspx
The Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) was given by the Human Rights Council the mandate “to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises.” It manages the BHR treaty process.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/wgtranscorp/pages/igwgontnc.aspx
B+HR Asia (Business and Human Rights in Asia) is a UNDP regional programme to support “dialogue, awareness and training on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. In several countries, UNDP is supporting governments in the development and implementation of National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights. UNDP also works with civil society, providing grants to organizations in the region in support of human rights defenders. UNDP’s work with businesses includes developing due diligence tools, conducting training for staff, and supporting impact assessments.”
https://bizhumanrights.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/bizhumanrights/en/home/our-work.html
CENTERS & INSTITUTES
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre “advances human rights in business” by tracking over 10,000 companies and helping the vulnerable eradicate abuse.
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/
Shift seeks to be “the leading centre of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles,” believing in “a world where business gets done with respect for people’s dignity.”
IHRB (Institute for Human Rights and Business) seeks “to shape policy, advance practice and strengthen accountability in order to make respect for human rights part of everyday business.”
The Danish Institute for Human Rights tackles a range of human rights themes, including Business and Human Rights, the Human Rights-Based Approach, and National Human Rights Institutions.
University of the Philippines Law Center’s Institute of Human Rights (IHR) is “an academic legal resource institute that puts the protection and promotion of human rights at the center of its work.” IHR published our book People and Profits: A Guide on Business and Human Rights for NGOs in 2017.
https://law.upd.edu.ph/institute-of-human-rights/
Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) is a “critical, independent, not-for-profit knowledge centre on multinationals.” Based in the Amsterdam, it has been investigating multinational corporations and the impact of their activities on people and the environment.
https://www.somo.nl/about-somo/
INTERNATIONAL LAW
ICJ (International Commission of Jurists) is comprised of “advocates for justice and human rights” and issues legal opinions and comments on BHR issues and the BHR treaty process. Founded in 1952, ICJ brings together senior judges, lawyers, and legal academics representing the world’s many legal systems to promote and protect the rule of law. Its International Secretariat is based in Geneva and operates on all continents to develop and implement international and regional human rights law, to protect the independence of judges and lawyers, and to provide accountability for violations.
https://www.icj.org/theme/international-economic-relations/
CAMPAIGNS
Digital Rights
Access Now urges “companies to make their practices more transparent, accountable, and rights-respecting.” Its Transparency Reporting Index allows tech companies to disclose threats to user privacy and free expression and provides site visitors with an easy way to find reports from today’s leading internet companies and telcos.
https://www.accessnow.org/issue/business-and-human-rights/
Anti-Slavery
Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking is “part of the Liechtenstein Initiative, which previously convened a Commission to consider how to put the financial sector at the heart of global efforts to address modern slavery and human trafficking.” It seeks “to help end modern slavery and human trafficking.”
https://www.fastinitiative.org/
Corporate Social Responsibility
BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) is “a global nonprofit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies and other partners to build a just and sustainable world.”
ASEAN CSR Network is a “regional network of CSR networks” that seeks to “promote and enable responsible business conduct in ASEAN to achieve sustainable, equitable and inclusive social, environmental and economic development.” While its primary advocacy has been on corporate social responsibility, it has convened regional events for business, government and civil society discussions and debates on Business and Human Rights in the ASEAN.