The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.
They were proposed by UN Special Representative on business and human rights John Ruggie, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011. In the same resolution, the UN Human Rights Council established the UN Working Group on business & human rights.
The UNGPs rest on three pillars
I
Protect
State duty to protect human rights.
II
Respect
The corporate responsibility to respect human rights.
III
Remedy
Access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses
Further Reading
UN Working Group
The UN Working Group was established by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011, following its endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OHCHR leads the business and human rights agenda within the UN system.
UN Guiding Principles at 10
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UNGPs, the Working Group undertook a project informed by wide-ranging stakeholder consultations, to chart a course for a decade of action on business and human rights.
In Memory of Prof. John G. Ruggie, 1944-2021
The business and human rights community paid tribute to the author of the UN Guiding Principles, who sadly passed away in September 2021, mourning this loss and commemorating the achievement, life and legacy of John Ruggie.
