In March I posted the article; UN releases much-anticipated Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights – Washington DC Human Rights on the Washington DC Human Rights Examiner. In follow-up to the release of the Guiding Principles, earlier this month, on Thursday, June 16, 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council took an unprecedented step, the as they endorsed a new set of Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. The “Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework“, drafted by UN Special Representative on business & human rights John Ruggie, is designed to provide -for the first time- a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity.
“The Council’s endorsement establishes the Guiding Principles as the authoritative global reference point for business and human rights,” said John Ruggie, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Business and Human Rights. “They will also provide civil society, investors and others the tools to measure real progress in the daily lives of people.” (UNOG)
Special Representative Ruggie issued a draft report with full text of proposed Guiding Principles of the Guiding Principles on 22 November 2010 (UN). Following the issuance of the draft Special Representative Ruggie held consultations with Submissions came from all over the world, including from governments, individual companies and business associations, civil society, investors, academics, international organizations, law firms, and interested individuals, on the Guiding Principles until 31 January 2011.
The Guiding Principles will impact children as business entities will be guided to evaluate and share best practices on key human rights issues directly affecting them or indirectly impacting them;
Guidance to business enterprises on respecting human rights should indicate expected outcomes and help share best practices. It should advise on appropriate methods, including human rights due diligence, and how to consider effectively issues of gender, vulnerability and/or marginalization, recognizing the specific challenges that may be faced by indigenous peoples, women, national or ethnic minorities, religious and linguistic minorities, children, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers and their families.
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