"Relationship Between the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Guiding Principles," Sept 2016

…President Caroline Rees clarifying the relationship between the SDGs and the UNGPs and how the UNGPs absolutely foster better lives for people around the world…[P]lease have a listen to a…webinar Caroline gave for the W[orld Business Council for Sustainable Development] on this topic. Her key points include:

1. …[W]hen it comes to the “people” part [of sustainable development], most companies dismiss discussions about reducing negative impacts as mere “compliance” and focus their energies on strategic philanthropy... 
2. This misses the point about respect for human rights. When companies drive respect for human rights across their operations…they can have a…large-scale positive impact on the lives of the people…in need of development…
3. …[U]nder the Guiding Principles all companies have a responsibility to use their influence to drive respect for human rights through their value chains. When we consider the millions of people…affected by those global supply chains…we start to see the true potential for how every company…can make a major contribution to sustainable development.