National action plans on business and human rights

The UN Working Group strongly encourages all States to develop, enact and update periodically a national action plan on business and human rights. Such plans are part of the responsibility of States to disseminate and implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Working Group's guidance

In 2016 the Working Group produced a final version of the Guidance on National Action Plans, the result of an open, global, year-long consultative process involving States, companies, civil society, NHRIs and academia. The guidance also builds on the Working Group’s 2014 report to UN General Assembly on national action plans. The Working Group consulted with governments on this theme via a 2014 survey, and it held an online consultation (word | PDF) on substantive elements to be included in a national action plan.

Progress worldwide

The Working Group congratulates the many States have already produced a plan or have taken steps toward doing so. View the status of the development of national action plans by States below.
We invite States wishing to discuss any aspect of the national action plan process to  email us. We would also be pleased to facilitate the sharing of experiences amongst States. Please email us at wg-business@ohchr.org.

States that have produced a national action plan on business and human rights

1. Argentina – launched November 2023
2. Belgium – launched July 2017, updated April 2024 (French | Dutch)
3. Chile – launched July 2017, updated March 2022
4. Colombia - launched December 2015, updated December 2020
5. Czech Republic - launched October 2017
6. Denmark - launched April 2014
7. Finland - launched October 2014
8. France – launched April 2017 (French | English )
9. Germany - launched December 2016
10. Indonesia – launched September 2023
11. Ireland - launched November 2017
12. Italy -  launched December 2016 (Italian | English), updated December 2021 (Italian | English)
13. Japan - launched October 2020 ( English | Japanese)
14. Kenya - launched June 2019
15. Liberia – launched August 2024 
16. Lithuania - launched February 2015
17. Luxembourg – launched June 2018 (English | French), updated January 2020
18. Mongolia – launched June 2023 (Mongolian | English)
19. Nepal – launched December 2023
20. Netherlands - launched December 2013, updated July 2022
21. Nigeria – launched April 2023
22. Norway - launched October 2015
23. Pakistan – launched October 2021
24. Peru - launched June 2021( English | Spanish)
25. Poland - launched May 2017, updated October 2021 (Polish | English)
26. Slovenia -  launched November 2018 (English | Slovenian)
27. Spain -  launched July 2017 (English | Spanish)
28. Sweden - launched August 2015
29. Switzerland - launched December 2016 (French | English), updated January 2020 (French | English)
30. Thailand – launched October 2019 (English | Thai), updated September 2023
31. Uganda - launched August 2021
32. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - launched September 2013, updated May 2016
33. United States of America - launched December 2016, updated March 2024
34. Vietnam – launched July 2023

States that have included a ‘Business and Human Rights’ chapter in their Human Rights national action plans

• China - Read the Business and Human Rights Chapter within China’s Human Rights Action Plan of China (2021 - 2025)
• Georgia - Read the Business and Human Rights Chapter within Georgia's Human Rights NAP: English
• South Korea – read the Business and human rights VIII chapter within South Korea Human Rights NAPs: English and the Guidelines on Business and Human Rights
• México – Read the Business and human Rights Chapter within Mexico’s Human Rights NAP 2020-2024 (only in Spanish)

Other resources

The Global National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights website has a resource page that includes a “National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights Toolkit” developed by the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).

Information on national action plans can also be found on the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre's website.