The present report sets out recommended action to improve accountability and access to remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuses through State-based non-judicial  mechanisms.  It has been compiled as part of the Accountability and Remedy Project of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), pursuant to the request of the Human Rights Council in its resolution 32/10. It follows up on the report on accountability and access to remedy through judicial mechanism prepared during the first phase of the Project (see A/HRC/32/19 and Add.1). In  the  report, the High Commissioner explains the scope of the work involved and the approach taken by OHCHR, and makes general observations about the role of State-based non-judicial mechanisms in achieving accountability and access to remedy in business and human rights cases. The report includes an annex containing a set of recommended “policy objectives” for States, supported by a series of elements intended to demonstrate  the different ways that States can work towards meeting those objectives. Additional explanations, drawn from the two-year research process undertaken by OHCHR, are contained in an addendum to the report (A/HRC/38/20/Add.1).

Contents

I. Introduction
II. Accountability and access to remedy: the role of State-based non-judicial mechanisms
III. Overview
     A. Scope
     B. Methodology
     C. Structure and approach of the recommendations
     D. Target audience
IV. General observations
     A. Policy coherence and systemic effectiveness
     B. Effectiveness of individual State-based non-judicial mechanisms
     C. State-based non-judicial mechanisms and cross-border cases
V. Recommendations
Annex
Recommended action to improve the effectiveness of State-based non-judicial mechanisms relevant to business and human rights