About
The Guiding Principles provided the first global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity, and continue to provide the internationally accepted framework for enhancing standards and practice regarding business and human rights.
The UN Guiding Principles are divided in three categories:
- The state duty to protect human rights
- The corporate responsibility to respect human rights
- Access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses
Who does it impact?
The Guiding Principles apply to all UN states and to all business enterprises.
Status: Launched
Endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in its resolution 17/4 of 16 June 2011.
Relation to other initiatives and regulations
- The Guiding Principles are developed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.
- The Principles implements the United Nations 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework.
- The Guiding Principles are integrated into the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Participants
The member states of the United Nations (UN).
Thommessen's comments
The Guiding Principles have received wide support from states, civil society organizations, as well as the private sector. The 31 principles set expectations of states and companies about how to prevent and address negative impacts on human rights by business.
The Guiding Principles apply to all states and all businesses worldwide and today are being implemented by companies, governments and their stakeholders all over the world.
June 16th 2021 marked the 10th anniversary of the Guiding Principles, and for that occasion the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights presented a stocktaking report which gives valuable insight and guidance to the Guiding Principles.