"Engaging with human rights through inclusive business practices", 15 April 2015

A new report from CSR Asia outlines some of the human rights risks that are facing businesses who operate global value chains. It highlights, in particular, growing concerns about various forms of modern day slavery that are often found deep down the supply chains of companies...the report outlines the issues that face businesses, the opportunities for responsible and inclusive business practices and some of the barriers to addressing human rights concerns...One of the biggest challenges for responsible and inclusive businesses is that many human rights violations happen deep down supply chains where auditors and inspectors rarely go. They are found in agriculture, fishing, mining and other primary industries...research shows few businesses have supplier codes of conduct that go beyond first tier suppliers...

An assessment should be grounded in a human rights approach by ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders involved in the process, with a particular emphasis on the marginalized or vulnerable groups...Vulnerable groups will include the poor, women, indigenous peoples, children, migrant workers, refugees, the disabled, ethnic minorities and the displaced...