OHCHR Accountability and Remedy Project IV: Enhancing the accessibility, dissemination and implementation of ARP findings

• Introduction
• Documents
• Events, Meetings, Etc.
• Calls for input
• Phases of the Accountability and Remedy Project

Introduction

The OHCHR Accountability and Remedy Project (ARP) began in 2014 with the aim of delivering credible and workable recommendations for enhancing accountability and access to remedy in cases of business-related human rights abuse (2-page background on ARP).

During the first six years of the project, three substantive phases were completed, with each phase resulting in recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of one of the three categories of grievance mechanisms referred to in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs):

• Judicial mechanisms (ARP I);
• State-based non-judicial grievance mechanisms (ARP II); and
• Non-State-based grievance mechanisms (ARP III).

Each ARP phase was requested by the Human Rights Council, and each ARP report was presented to, and noted with appreciation by, the Council (see resolutions 26/22, 32/10, 38/13 & 44/15).

Following up on the six years of substantive, evidence-based work into how different grievance mechanisms can be made more effective, OHCHR began work on a fourth phase of the project in 2020 to enhance the accessibility, dissemination and implementation of ARP findings (ARP IV).

ARP IV activities will include:

• Converting ARP materials into more user-friendly, non-expert formats that are available in multiple languages;
• Creating interpretive and/or operational guides;
• Developing ARP training materials for different types of stakeholders;
• Partnering with civil society organizations, business organizations, bar associations, academic networks, and others to better implement ARP findings;
• Promoting ARP work in relevant events and meetings; and
• Integrating ARP findings into relevant standard-setting initiatives.

ARP IV is an inclusive, collaborative project, and the ARP IV team is constantly looking for new ideas and partnerships for better promoting ARP findings. Please contact OHCHR-business-access2remedy@un.org if you would like to share any ideas or information, become involved in the ARP IV work, or ask any question.

Documents

ARP Reports

• ARP I - Judicial mechanisms:Main Report, Explanatory Addendum and Illustrative Examples
  • ARP I follow-up report on the relevance of human rights due diligence to determinations of corporate liability (Traducción no oficial en español)
• ARP II - State-based non-judicial grievance mechanisms:Main Report and Explanatory Addendum
• ARP III - Non-State-based grievance mechanisms:Main Report and Explanatory Addendum
• ARP IV – Enhancing the accessibility, dissemination and implementation of the Accountability and Remedy Project: Main Report and Addendum

Other Relevant Documents

• Resources on accountability and remedy
• 2-page information note on ARP, 24 May 2022
• Unofficial collection of resources referencing ARP, 25 April 2022
• Updates on the Accountability and Remedy Project
  • July 2021 update
  • December 2021 update
  • June 2022 update
• Meeting the UNGPs’ Effectiveness Criteria: Summary of ARP III Guidance, 10 December 2021
  • Traducción no oficial en español
  • Traduction non officielle en français
• How to read an ARP report, 22 February 2021
• Overview of ARP methodology, 22 February 2021
• Foundational papers on access to remedy and the technology sector, January 2021
  • Basic concepts and principles
  • A “remedy ecosystem” approach
  • Designing and implementing effective company-based grievance mechanisms
  • Understanding the perspectives and needs of affected people and groups
• Mandatory human rights due diligence
• The treaty process

Human Rights Council Mandates

• A/HRC/RES/53/3 – Business and human rights
• A/HRC/RES/44/15 - Business and human rights: the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, and improving accountability and access to remedy, 17 July 2020
• A/HRC/RES/38/13 - Business and human rights: improving accountability and access to remedy, 6 July 2018
• A/HRC/RES/32/10 - Business and human rights: improving accountability and access to remedy, 15 July 2016
• A/HRC/RES/26/22 – Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, 15 July 2014

Events, Meetings, Etc.

This section includes certain events and other types of meetings in which OHCHR took part, and which can be made public. OHCHR is actively seeking to participate in events related to accountability and access to remedy for business-related human rights abuse. If you would like to notify the ARP team of, or invite us to, relevant events, or propose organizing an event with us, please contact business-access2remedy@ohchr.org.

Calls for input

• Call for input for ARP IV report and HRDD consultation
  • Word versions: English | Français | Español
  • Deadline for submissions: 1 March 2022
  • Compilation of responses on the consultation
• Questions to be answered in Interpretive Guide on Access to Remedy (Word version)
  • Deadline for submissions: 23 August 2021

Phases of the Accountability and Remedy Project

For background on the greater Accountability and Remedy Project, consult the ARP information note. For information on specific phases: