The United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday endorsed policy guidelines on the human rights responsibilities of business that for the first time make clear the duty of companies to comply with international human rights obligations in their own operations.
The 47-member council backed a policy framework devised by John Ruggie, a Harvard professor who is the UN secretary-general’s special representative on business and human rights.
His report, the outcome of three years of consultations with business groups, human rights activists and victims of human rights violations, says it is first and foremost the role of states to protect against human rights abuses by third parties including businesses.
But companies also have a responsibility to respect human rights, and those affected by human rights violations committed by business need more effective access to remedies, the report says.
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