8 December 2015
Business Leaders Affirm Human Rights Principles as “Companion” to SDGs
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Leaders from ten international organizations representing the business community endorsed a statement welcoming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and affirming the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as “a powerful and critical companion” to the 17 Goals.

Global Compact18 November 2015: Leaders from ten international organizations representing the business community endorsed a statement welcoming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and affirming the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as “a powerful and critical companion” to the 17 Goals.

The UN Global Compact, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) and several other organizations signed on to the statement at the Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, which took place from 16-18 November 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland. Lise Kingo, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, called on businesses to respect human rights as a critical component of their role in the SDGs.

The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were created under the leadership of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in 2011 as a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity. The Principles have three pillars: states’ duty to protect the human rights of people within their respective jurisdictions; business’ responsibility to respect human rights wherever they operate; and the need for access to remedy, including through effective grievance mechanisms.

The statement of ten business organizations highlights that while responsible business activities can be a force for good, business activities that do not respect human rights undermine sustainable development.

The Forum on Business and Human Rights was established by the HRC as a platform to explore progress on the implementation of the Guiding Principles. The 2015 Forum was organized on the theme of “tracking progress and ensuring coherence.” Other topics of discussion included national action plans on business and human rights, and access to effective remedy. A high-level plenary took place on 17 November, and featured Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Katie Redford, Founder and Director of Earthrights International, among others. [UN Global Compact Press Release] [Leaders’ Statement] [Forum Programme] [Background on Guiding Principles]

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