What is Business and Human Rights?
Business and human rights refers to the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights, while states have the duty to protect them through regulation and legal frameworks.
The OHCHR explains business and human rights:
States are obligated under international human rights law to protect against human rights abuse within their territory and/or jurisdiction by third parties, including business enterprises. Even if States do not fulfil their obligations, all business enterprises are expected to respect human rights, meaning they should avoid infringing on the human rights of others, and should address adverse human rights impacts with which they are involved. If abuses occur, victims must have access to effective remedy through judicial and non-judicial grievance mechanisms. (OHCHR and business and human rights | OHCHR)
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were endorsed in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council. They are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.
In the same resolution, the UN Human Rights Council established the UN Working Group on business & human rights.
The UNGPs rest on three pillars:
- Protect: States’ existing obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Respect: The role of business enterprises as specialized organs of society performing specialized functions, required to comply with all applicable laws and to respect human rights;
- Remedy: The need for rights and obligations to be matched to appropriate and effective remedies when breached.
Find out more and read the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights at this link: guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf
UN Forum on Business and Human Rights is a yearly conference on the subject which we attend, alongside other NHRIs.
More about BHR: UN Guiding Principles - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
We are a part of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) Business and Human Rights Working Groups. These groups have regular meetings where we discuss ongoing work on business and human rights, hear from experts in related fields within business and human rights, and work on joint policies.
Note: NIHRC previously provided the Secretariat to the NI Business and Human Rights Forum, which has been inactive since 2022.
The UNGPs rest on three pillars:
- Protect: States’ existing obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Respect: The role of business enterprises as specialized organs of society performing specialized functions, required to comply with all applicable laws and to respect human rights;
- Remedy: The need for rights and obligations to be matched to appropriate and effective remedies when breached.
Find out more and read the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights at this link: guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf
Useful resources
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Modern Slavery Resource Document249.0 KB
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Forum Northern Ireland's Action Plan on Business & Human Rights511.6 KB
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Human Rights Policy Statement327.4 KB
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Forum’s evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ 2016 Human Rights and Business Inquiry193.9 KB
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NIHRC’s submission to Joint Committee on Human Rights’ 2016 Human Rights and Business Inquiry239.6 KB
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Oral statement to UN Human Rights Council on business & human rights31.0 KB
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Guide for Businesses in Northern Ireland on Business and Human Rights303.4 KB
UN Forum on Business and Human Rights is a yearly conference on the subject which we attend, alongside other NHRIs.
More about BHR: UN Guiding Principles - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
We are a part of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) Business and Human Rights Working Groups. These groups have regular meetings where we discuss ongoing work on business and human rights, hear from experts in related fields within business and human rights, and work on joint policies.
Note: NIHRC previously provided the Secretariat to the NI Business and Human Rights Forum, which has been inactive since 2022.