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Defining Business Respect For and Protection of Human Rights

Region:
Global

At the end of 2010, the Special Representative for the United Nations Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie, invited comments on the "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework"

The framework on business & human rights rests on three pillars:

  • The state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business;
  • The corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and
  • Greater access by victims to effective remedy, both judicial and non-judicial.

The draft principles are controversial as they risk undermining gains made in holding companies accountable under international human rights law. In response, more than 100 organizations, including CESR, collaborated to address concerns and ensure that human rights are broadly respected and protected.

Read the joint statement on the draft guiding principles on business and human rights >>

Read the joint statement on the state's responsibility to protect human rights abroad >>