UN experts: Corporations must contribute to sustainable development by respecting human rights

GENEVA (14 July 2015) – The United Nations Working Group on business and human rights today urged Governments across the world to ensure that corporations do not undermine sustainable development, and called for greater transparency and accountability for how businesses address human rights risks and impacts.  

“States must set a clear vision for connecting the increasing role of the private sector and businesses in development with accountability and agreed standards for business practices aligned with human rights,” the independent expert group said in a letter* to lead negotiators as they enter the final stages of negotiating the ‘Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda.’

Last week, two key outcome documents were made public after months of negotiations: the draft Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, being held in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015; and the final draft outcome document for the UN Summit in New York in September 2015.

“The goals are ambitious, as they must be, calling for ‘a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity,’ ‘free of poverty, hunger, disease and want,’ and ‘free of fear and violence,’” said Margaret Jungk, who currently heads the Working Group, applauding the Agenda and its message about the need for all parts of society to contribute.

In their letter, the experts highlight that the draft outcome documents stress the critical importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders, including business and the private sector, in implementation of the new Agenda. However, they caution that business activities can also undermine respect for human rights if not properly regulated.

“It is critical to ensure that recognition of the increased role of business in development is coupled with adequate accountability,” the human rights expert said.

“A simple way of addressing this in the draft outcome documents would be to reference the UN Guiding Principles on Business on Human Rights, the authoritative framework to prevent and address adverse human rights risks and impacts of business activities, agreed to by UN member states in 2011,” Ms. Jungk added.

(*) See letter of the Working Group: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/2015Activities.aspx

The Working Group on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises (also known as the Working Group on Business and Human Rights) was established by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011. Its five members are: Michael Addo (current Chairperson-Rapporteur), Ms. Margaret Jungk (Vice Chair), Mr. Pavel Sulyandziga, Mr. Puvan Selvanathan, and Mr. Dante Pesce. The Working Group is independent from any government or organization. It reports to the Human Rights Council and to the UN General Assembly. For more information visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx

The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

See the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Tools.aspx 

For additional information and media requests, please contact Ulrik Halsteen (+41 22 917 9323 / wg-business@ohchr.org).

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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