Since July 2005, I have served as the United Nations secretary-general’s special representative for business and human rights. My third report to the Human Rights Council has just been released. Drawing on 14 multi-stakeholder consultations and extensive research, it lays out a strategic policy framework for better managing business and human rights challenges.

The framework rests on three foundational principles: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses by business; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and the need for better access by victims to effective remedies.

The “protect, respect and remedy” framework itself is offered as the major recommendation to the Human Rights Council. It is intended to establish greater coherence and generate cumulative progress in the business and human rights domain. Under each of the framework’s three principles, the report also addresses a broad range of specific measures, including changes in national laws and regulatory policies, international mechanisms and voluntary initiatives.

Upcoming Ethical Corporation conferences & events:
How to manage Social & Environmental Risk in the mining, oil & gas, steel and other heavy industries
London, 22-23 March 2010 The Responsible Business Summit 2010
Novotel West Hotel, London, 4th – 5th May 2010 The Inaugural Ethical Corporation Awards
Novotel West Hotel, London, Evening of 4th May 2010
The Awards will be held at the Responsible Summit -
on the evening of the first day
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