The United Nations agency responsible for human rights has distanced itself from the controversial “norms” on business and human rights first proposed by one of its advisory groups, and has initiated a broad consultation process with business as part of a new UN report on the issue of business and human rights.
The report was requested by the UN Commission on Human Rights in an April 2004 decision regarding the proposed norms on human rights responsibilities for business. That decision stated that the commission had not requested the norms and that they had no legal standing. It also asked the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to compile a report on existing instruments and standards related to business and human rights.
As a first step in developing the new report, the UN agency has contacted a range of business organizations, including USCIB and two of its affiliates, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organisation of Employers, asking for input regarding existing initiatives on business and human rights, their scope and legal status, and any other related issues. The UN report will be submitted to the Commission on Human Rights in March of 2005 and will be completed by early next year.
The UN’s move away from the controversial draft norms and its initiation of an open consultation process with business are a significant improvement over how the issue of business and human rights was addressed in the advisory group that drafted the norms. USCIB and its international affiliates will be actively engaged in presenting business’ contributions to human rights and the need for national efforts to protect such rights, including the rule of law, independent courts, free speech, individual liberty, and anti-corruption to name just a few.
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ISO Guidance on Corporate Responsibility – Following nearly two years of study on the topic of corporate social responsibility, capped by a two-day international conference on the issue in Stockholm in June, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has decided to develop a "guidance document" on social responsibility. The document will provide practical guidance to a wide variety of organizations on a range of methods and options for implementing social responsibility. While guidance documents are referred to as “standards” in ISO terminology, the document will not attempt to standardize any aspect of social responsibility, nor will it include performance requirements or serve as a management system standard. Importantly, it will also not be designed for or open to certification by any organizations that uses it. Learn more at: Click Here.
