Human Rights

The Human Rights Reading Room :: Global Business Practices

“No debate can move forward, no positive change can be made, without facts.  The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre is the only website to provide such a broad range of balanced information on business and human rights – company by company, country by country, issue by issue.”- Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre Provides one-stop access to information and tools useful to companies for accomplishing their human rights mission.   The purpose is to encourage respect of human life in the conduct of business and the avoidance of harm to people or the natural environment. Facilitating constructive, informed decision-making and public discussion are among the goals.

Helping companies with human rights.

• What companies find useful.....click here

• List of companies and cases.  See alpha list here

• List of over 4000 cases on individual companies here

• Full text of all past Weekly Updates here.

Overview - UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Businesses as primary agents driving globalization can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.  Read more at Global Impact website…

The 10 Principles in Human Rights  The UN Global Compact's 10 principles in human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus.  Read the principles here…        

Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice – 4 Case Studies  This joint publication of the Global Compact and the UN Office of the High Commissioner explores the practical  meaning of Global Compact’ s human rights principles for companies, presenting four case studies and a policy report on business practice. The main conclusion drawn from these cases is that proactive efforts to address human rights concerns better equipped businesses to manage risks and helps secure and maintain their license to operate.  Read full report…

United States Participants – UN Global Compact

• Business Schools - Harvard Business School; Wharton School of Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); School of International and Public Affairs Columbia University, Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management; College of Business of Fordham University; The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College; University of Michigan Business School; and others.

• Civil Society Organizations - Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program; Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies – CERES; Conservation International; Human Rights First; Institute for Sustainable Communities; Nigerian Nurses Association of USA, Inc.; The International Association of Lions Clubs; Aviation for Humanity; and more…

• Business Associations - World Confederation of Businesses; UltiSat, Inc. International Council of Chemical Associations; International Association of Jesuit Business Schools; [Xavier University Cincinnati]; Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS; United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Hightowers Petroleum Company; Global Venture Network; Association of Corporate Travel Executives; Business for Social Responsibility; American International General Chamber of Commerce; National Money Transmitters Association Inc. and more…

• Cities - Should Cincinnati region participate? Launched in 2003, the Cities Programme seeks to improve the quality of urban life through the effective use of local cross-sector partnerships between business, government and civil society. The Programme is based on the premise that cross-sector partnerships, combining the ideas, knowledge, experience, wisdom and resources inherent within business, government and civil society, have a powerful, unique and unlimited capacity to develop innovative solutions to even the most intractable environmental, social or economic urban problems. more…

To become a Cities participant in the UN Global Compact
• Download and complete the Letter of Commitment.
• Complete the online Organization Registration Form and upload your Letter of Commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions What is the objective of the integrity measures?
Since the UN Global Compact’s emphasis is on learning, dialogue and partnerships, it wishes to engage only those businesses that have a genuine interest in continuous improvement. The purpose of the integrity measures is to safeguard the integrity and good efforts of the UN, its Global Compact, participants and stakeholders. The main vehicle for doing so is the policy on Communicating Progress (COP), which requires every participant to share on an annual basis with their stakeholders their progress in implementing the Global Compact principles. 

Communicating Progress (COP) Policy  Useful helps. 

• Policy on COP (pdf) - Updated April 2009               

• Preparing a COP: COP practical guide (pdf)            

• Submitting a COP: a step-by-step guide (pdf )          

Learn more.

Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Statement by the Governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom Dec 19, 2000
The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, companies in the extractive sectors ("Companies"), and non-governmental organizations, all with an interest in human rights and corporate social responsibility, have engaged in a dialogue on security and human rights. We recognize the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the world and the constructive role business and civil society (including non-governmental organizations, labor/trade unions and local communities) can play in advancing these goals. The participants in this dialogue developed a set of voluntary principles to guide Companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. More…
• Participants + Companies list…

Multinational Corporations & Human Rights Questions about Their Relationships – A Report.  Studying the evolving legal and human rights responsibilities of corporations. Castan Centre for human rights law; Monash University. A discussion on the effects on the deleterious effect on third-world people and land.  Read Castan Centre report.  

American Bar Association: Corporate Social Responsibility Committee The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee is a national leader for attorneys working in this rapidly growing practice area. The rise of transnational business has created new challenges for corporations and their counsel. Companies in nearly every industry...have come under scrutiny from governments, human rights groups, and their shareholders as they navigate the challenges of investing and operating in foreign nations, with vastly different standards of human rights, environmental protections, and corruption standards that are expected of them at home.  Read more…          

The International Labour Organization (ILO)  The ILO was founded in 1919, in the wake of a destructive war, to pursue a vision based on the premise that universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon decent treatment of working people. The ILO became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946.  Read more…              

International Bar Association Human Rights Institute Indigenous Peoples Committee of the IBA was formed to look at questions of development as it affects both land and people. It approaches the subject from the legal perspective of the people and the land affected rather than that of developers or proponents of projects, governments or business in general. To watch a debate on human rights and business in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 21 September 2009,  click here. 

Other helpful documents PDF reports

Harvard Human Rights Corporate Accountability Guide           
Africom Letter to Eric Holder                                                       
Corporate Human Rights Advocacy – Good Practice Notes       
Sample commitment Letter for Non Business Organizations