Business Launch of the Roadmap for the better implementation of the UN Guiding Principles On Business And Human Rights

Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

21 June 2021

Secretary-General Santos,
Mr Pesce,
Colleagues and friends,

I'm very glad to have this opportunity to speak with this gathering of business leaders, so that we can share our thoughts about the road ahead for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. My thanks go to the International Organisation of Employers for their invitation.

Ten years ago, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In other words, States firmly established the Guiding Principles as the authoritative global standard for the human rights responsibilities of business.

As the first common, global framework for managing the risks to people's human rights and dignity that business activities may generate, this was a landmark. For while businesses contribute enormously to thriving economies that mean people can free themselves from deprivation and poverty, such positive contributions can only be fully realised if business activities are not also causing harm.

The Guiding Principles brought normative guidance. They unpacked what the legal duties for governments – and standards for business – mean in terms of practical steps.

Ten years on from this milestone, efforts to engage with relevant stakeholders – including businesses – have secured considerable support. A stocktaking report of the past decade by the Human Right's Council's Working Group on Business and Human Rights presents a clear picture of this impact.

Many more businesses have stepped up with commitments to respect human rights. And a small but growing number of companies are putting this into practice, by implementing human rights due diligence processes.

IOE’s support to the Guiding Principles, and efforts to raise awareness and support peer learning and capacity-building among employers, have been very valuable.

The UN Human Rights Office which I lead has also made significant efforts to help promote implementation of the Guiding Principles and collaboration among stakeholders.

We have developed practical, evidence-based guidance, based on extensive research and engagement with stakeholders from across the world, to help victims to access effective remedy for harm.

Our recent B-Tech project unpacks the UN Guiding Principles for the digital tech sector.

We increasingly support practical implementation by individual companies and governments at the country level – for example through business peer-learning workshops, and by providing support and guidance that is tailored to local realities.

Together with the Working Group, we have helped to create an Annual Forum that has become the largest global gathering to discuss progress and challenges for implementation of the Guiding Principles.

But while it is timely to take stock of achievements, this anniversary – which coincides with a devastating series of blows to human rights related to the COVID-19 pandemic – is also a reminder of the challenges ahead.

The pandemic's impact on workers, businesses, communities and human rights defenders has amplified the challenges. There is a danger that some progress may be pushed back.

Business respect for people’s rights and dignity is essential for a responsible recovery. It is also key for achieving a green and sustainable economy.

Looking ahead, all States need to step up their action to foster rights-respecting business conduct in every sector. Every State should develop an action plan for implementing the Guiding Principles. Effective, mandatory due diligence rules are a key part of the smart mix of measures that foster business respect for human rights.

All businesses need to make human rights due diligence part of standard practice.

There is also a need to close the gap between policy commitment and due diligence in practice.

The need to ensure access to remedy for victims of business-related harm should also be an urgent priority for both States and businesses, and the guidance from our Accountability and Remedy Project can surely help in this regard.

With the assistance of IOE and many others, we also need to accelerate our awareness-raising among governments and businesses – including small and medium-sized enterprises.

In other words, we need to up our game. This is life-saving work, and it will also help to rescue our economies and our planet.

I encourage States, businesses and business organizations to use this anniversary as an opportunity to set more ambitious goals, and to accelerate the implementation of business respect for human rights.

Thank you.