What is the link between Human Rights and CSR?
The first 6 principles of the world’s largest CSR initiative, the UN Global Compact, are all human rights principles.
Human rights were written for governments. The UN Conventions also create a duty for governments to protect against human rights abuses from private actors. UN has now established that also corporations have a direct responsibility to respect human rights. Corporations may, within their sphere of influence, violate most rights (e.g. child labour, non-discrimination, forced labour, freedom of association, right to work, right to privacy, freedom of information and speech, right to peaceful assembly).
As such, from a risk perspective, human rights should be implemented as part of any corporation’s compliance programme. In addition, human rights serves as a qualifier to proactive CSR initiatives. By using human rights as the framework for proactive CSR activities, corporations can benefit from identifying specific rights to promote actively; rights that are aligned with the corporation’s core business, competencies or serve to answer specific risks.
GLOBAL CSR are globally recognized as leading experts on the application of the International Bill of Human Rights as the basis of CSR activities towards people. Human rights are at the heart of our work and we have extensive experience in advising corporations, governments and civil society on the principles-based approach to CSR.
Learn more about our services in relation to CSR and Human Rights.
For more information please contact us: info@global-csr.com
Questions and Answers on CSR:
- What is CSR?
- What is an international Principles-Based Approach to CSR?
- What is the link between Human Rights and CSR?
- What is the Triple Bottom Line?
- What is CSR Compliance & Opportunities?
- Does CSR have the potential to create sustainable development?
- Is CSR also relevant for governments?
- Is CSR also relevant for SMEs?
- Is CSR only relevant in relation to corporations operating in or sourcing from emerging economies?
- Are Human Rights relevant for private corporations?
- Is there a business case for CSR?
- How can corporations perform Responsible Supply Chain Management?
- What are the implications of the Danish government’s “Action Plan for Corporate Social Responsibility” for Danish corporations?
- How can GLOBAL CSR assist in relation to CSR?