This report takes stock of the progress made by the business community in giving effect to the human rights principles of the Global Compact that businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. In this report, we first ask why human rights are important to business, what human rights are from the business perspective, where human rights standards and guidelines can be found and how to move from a statement of principle to real practice. The report highlights the expanding relationship between the United Nations and the business community, in working together for basic social values. It also focuses on progress made by companies in taking on board human rights and in turning commitment to principle to verifiable operational activities on the ground. This requires close cooperation with civil society. Finally, the checklist of nine steps that companies can take to integrate human rights into their principles, policies and activities is a useful guide for company action.