UN Human Rights

   

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COURSE OVERVIEW:
HUMAN RIGHTS & BUSINESS

• SECTION 1
  Introduction to Human Rights
• SECTION 2
  Respecting Human Rights
• SECTION 3
  Supporting Human Rights
• SECTION 4
  Complicity
• SECTION 5
  Remedy

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Foreword by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Globalization has significantly expanded the role of business both at the national and international level. The increased presence of business in most spheres of modern society has created new societal expectations regarding its appropriate role and responsibilities, including in the area of human rights. There is a growing acknowledgement, endorsed by many business leaders, that business enterprises in virtually all sectors - be it extractive, pharmaceutical, financial or others - can have a significant impact on human rights and play a crucial role in supporting and promoting human rights. And for the first time, the United Nations Human Rights Council has recognized that business have a responsibility to respect human rights. Key to harnessing the private sector's potential for advancing human rights is the increased understanding by business of human rights and of their relevance to business operations. The Human Rights and Business Learning Tool is intended to serve this purpose.

The tool has been developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in close collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact Office, and with assistance from the United Nations System Staff College. In developing this tool, the organizations involved benefited greatly from consultations with business representatives and experts during the drafting phase. The Human Rights and Business Learning Tool outlines the historical development of the human rights regime, and illustrates key aspects of what is meant by human rights. It then focuses on some of the concepts that are at the core of the issue of business and human rights, namely the due diligence that corporations need to undertake to become aware of, prevent and address adverse human rights impacts, the concept of sphere of influence and the concept of corporate complicity. The tool thus offers essential information to assist managers and other business personnel in understanding the human rights elements of their work. It provides a foundation upon which the corporations can act to enhance the knowledge of its workforce about human rights and thereby strengthen the integration of human rights into their corporate culture.

I hope that the tool will be used by a wide range of corporations both within and outside of the Global Compact, and contribute to the integration of human rights in their day-to-day operations. The understanding and integration of human rights in business practice will strengthen the positive role that business can play - both on its own and in partnership with the United Nations and other actors - towards the realization of a more sustainable and inclusive global economy and the achievement of human rights.

 

©2011. Produced by the Office of the United Nations High Commisisioner for Human Rights.

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