Twelve years ago most corporate representatives’ eyes would glaze over with disinterest when we advised that taking in human rights as a focal point for addressing their social  responsibilities could add tremendous value to their endeavors…While more progressive corporate leaders such as Mads Øvlisen from the Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, in 1999 adopted a commitment to human rights as ‘the right thing to do’ and started implementing the commitment, many corporate leaders dismiss any arguments other than short-term financial ones…When leveraging the human rights focus in relation to the right to health and non-discrimination at Novo Nordisk, the prospect of legal accountability in both areas worked as a strong catalyst for recognizing the urgency and increasing the speed with which the programs were implemented…In addition effective legal accountability will potentially save business considerable resources and worries. With clarity and a level playing field private corporations would not feel obliged to invent and enforce minimum standards on human rights towards partners and they would be able to manage risks efficiently…