Transcript Document
Support and respect for human rights: the UN Global Compact and the UN Protect-Respect-Remedy Framework Business and Human Rights: New UN Standards 20 June 2011 1. What is the UN Global Compact? 2. What are the human rights commitments participants make? 3. How does the UN Global Compact advance human rights? 4. Complementarity with the UN Protect-Respect-Remedy Framework 1. What is the UN GLOBAL COMPACT Vision and Mission VISION “A more sustainable and inclusive global economy.” TWO COMPLEMENTARY OBJECTIVES Make the ten principles part of business strategy, operations and culture everywhere. Facilitate partnerships in support of broad UN goals, including the Millennium Development Goals Internalization Contribution to Development What’s in it for the UN and for business Business Increasing, long-term sustainable profitability Economic growth Environment Global Health Good Governance & Security Food Security Sustainable Development Access to Energy United Nations Peace & Poverty Reduction Job Creation Deepening Interdependencies THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT The 10 Principles Human Rights Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Labour Standards Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Environment Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies Anti-Corruption Principle 10: Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery. 2. What are the human rights commitments UN Global Compact participants make? UNGC Principles Principle 1 – Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and Principle 2 – make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses Due Diligence A Human Rights Management Framework Some especially important elements: • Adopt a human rights policy (integrated or stand-alone) • Risk assessment and impact assessment • Integration of human rights policies throughout a company (including leadership from the top, training, building capacity to respond appropriately when unforeseen situations arise) • Tracking performance (monitoring and auditing processes), hotlines etc • Communication on progress The ‘Business Case’ Investor stronger financial performance / improved relations with investment community Innovator enhanced employee productivity / creative and value-added solutions Customer stronger relationships with community / credibility and trust / enhanced products & services Operations operational efficiency / reduction of transaction costs / ’ethical’ supply management Competitor better reputation and branding vs. competitor / enhanced license to operate vs. competitor Employee enhanced employee relations (recruitment, motivation, retention, innovation, productivity) Society Change Agent better relationship with community / credibility and trust in society / ‘license to operate’ moral compass for organizational change / proactive action basis to minimize risks 3. How does the UN Global Compact advance human rights? • Advocating that businesses have robust management systems in place to identify and manage human rights risks and opportunities • Helping businesses to address management systems failures and knowledge gaps • Helping to promote the responsibility to respect, and the associated Guiding Principles among business. • Working with other UN entities, to encourage the private sector to go beyond the minimum, individually and collectively, to engage in activities that support and promote human rights. 4. • • • • • • Complementarity with the UN Protect-Respect-Remedy Framework Promote business awareness of and encourage implementation of corporate responsibility to respect Raise the awareness of the importance of having robust policies and practices in place (due diligence) on human rights and tools Bring geographic, issue and sectoral specificity to the corporate responsibility to respect Delve deeper on how to undertake the recommended due diligence steps Promote coherence among business and human rights tool providers Provide a framework for and motivate companies to report progress on their human rights implementation Types of Ways Business Can Support Human Rights Business can support or promote human rights in at least four ways: – through their core business activities in support of UN goals and issues – strategic social investment and philanthropy – advocacy and public policy engagement – partnerships and collective action.