Globalization - Business and human rights

A key characteristic of globalization is that the actors involved are not only states but non-state actors, particularly multinational or trans-national corporations. As the influence and reach of corporations has grown as a result of globalization and other global developments, there is an increasing debate about the roles and responsibilities of corporate actors with regard to human rights.

International human rights standards have traditionally been the responsibility of governments, aimed at regulating relations between the state and individuals/groups. In view of the increased role played by corporate actors at both the national and international level, the United Nations human rights machinery is considering the scope of business' human rights responsibilities and exploring ways for corporate actors to be accountable for the impact of their activities on human rights. However, the practical meaning of the link between business and human rights remains unclear for many and there remains substantial debate over which human rights can and should apply to business, and in what way.

OHCHR's work on the issue of business and human rights is focused on four areas:

• Advocacy by the High Commissioner;

• Active involvement in the United Nations Global Compact;

• Support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of transnational corporations and other business enterprises;

• Secretariat assistance to the working group on the working methods of transnational corporations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection.

The High Commissioners has expressed support for the development of minimum human right standards applicable to the business sector, while at the same time advocating the implementation of voluntary initiatives towards corporate social responsibility.

The UN Global Compact is one such voluntary initiative. The Global Compact is a personal initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General dating from 2000, aimed at getting business leaders to voluntarily promote and apply within their corporate domains 10 principles relating to human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. At present, thousands of companies, many of them large trans-national companies, from all continents have signed on to the Global Compact.

OHCHR is one of now 6 UN agencies which work in partnership with the Secretary-General's Global Compact office (the other agencies being ILO, UNEP, UNODC, UNDP and UNIDO). Since the launch of the Global Compact, OHCHR has been requested by the United Nations Secretary-General to serve as "guardian" of the human rights principles and to contribute to efforts made to encourage companies to implement these principles in their core operations and business model. OHCHR activities have been grouped around the themes of learning and dialogue. OHCHR is involved in Global Compact governance through its membership of the Global Compact Inter-Agency Team which is responsible for ensuring coherent support for the internalization of the principles within the United Nations and among all participants. Terms of Reference describe the rules governing the Inter-Agency Team. 

OHCHR has joined the Global Compact Office and other partners in publishing tools for companies participating in the Global Compact on how to understand and implement the human rights principles of the Global Compact. (click on "Tools" to download OHCHR-supported tools on business and human rights)

In March 2007, OHCHR and the Global Compact Office launched a draft web-based training tool for Global Compact companies on human rights. OHCHR is inviting Global Compact participants and others to provide comments and feed-back on the tool during a three-month pilot phase. After incorporation of comments and suggestions, and final version of the tool will be launched later in 2007.

OHCHR is providing ongoing support and advice to the work of the special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights. The mandate was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2005 by resolution 2005/69 and was extended by the Human Rights Council. See the webpage of the SRSG for further information about the work of the Special Representative.

In resolution 2005/69, the Commission on Human Rights mandated the High Commissioner, in collaboration with the SRSG, to convene annually a consultation with executives from a particular business sector to discuss the human rights challenges faced by that sector. In November 2005, the High Commissioner convened a consultation with representatives from the extractive sector (see report E/CN.4/2006/92 ). In January 2007, the High Commissioner convened a consultation with representatives from the finance sector (see report A/HRC/4/99).

OHCHR provides assistance to the Sub-Commission's Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations which was responsible for developing the draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights.