Japan: GCNJ & IGES publish SDG Progress Report 2023; Response to principles set out in UNGPs increases slightly, but still less than half
"企業等における最新のSDGs実態調査の結果を解説した 「SDGs進捗レポート 2023」を発行" 6 March 2023
[ Japanese-to-English translation: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre ]
The Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) published the SDGs Progress Report 2023 on Monday 6 March 2023.
Based on the results of a survey conducted between September and November 2022, this report provides an overview of the level of awareness of the SDGs, as well as the progress of initiatives for a total of five goals: Goals 5, 8, 13 and 16 of the SDGs, which the UN Global Compact (UNGC) emphasises, and Goal 12, for which Japanese companies are expected to accelerate their initiatives. The five goals were analysed and discussed by experts in each field, focusing on the themes of gender equality, workplace fulfilment and human rights, sustainable consumption and production, climate change and anti-corruption, which are important for the activities of companies and organisations. Based on the previous survey, which revealed a sufficient increase in SDG awareness and progress in the implementation of the initiatives, this year's survey takes a deeper look at the 'quality' of the initiatives at the practical stage, including the integration of the SDGs into management and the challenges involved in tackling them.
[...]
Highlights of the SDG Progress Report 2023.
[...]
Workplace fulfilment and human rights
The survey sets out the items specifically identified by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as 'Respect (Principles)'. The average response rate for all Respect (Principle) items increased slightly from 42.1% to 44.3%, but still less than half. The urgent task is to continue to implement and review the Respect (Principle) items. The lack of awareness of respect for human rights among consumers and local communities continues to be an issue, with over 30% of companies both not fully recognising the human rights of consumers as a human rights issue and not addressing the human rights of local communities.
[...]