Human Rights Working Group

In June 2006, the Global Compact Board established a Global Compact Human Rights Working Group (HRWG). The inaugural Chair of the HRWG was Mrs. Mary Robinson, from 2006 - 2010. The current Co-chairs of the HRWG are Global Compact board members Pierre Sané and Sir Mark Moody-Stuart.

• Terms of Reference
• List of Current Members
• UN Protect, Respect, Remedy Framework and Guiding Principles
  
• Previous HRWG Meeting Agendas and Reports
  

Workstreams

The main workstreams that the HRWG is currently involved in are:

1. Tools & Resources

Since its inception, the Human Rights Working Group has been active in developing and refining tools and other guidance materials for business on how to respect and support human rights. These and other resources can be accessed here. Current Projects of the HRWG under this heading include:

• Human Rights Reporting

2. Good Practices

The Human Rights Working Group seeks to identify and promote good business practices for the implementation of human rights. The three main channels that the HRWG has been engaged in to date are:

Good Practice Forum

In April 2008, the working group agreed to function as a forum for consideration of the endorsement of good business practices on human rights. Rather than highlighting specific practices of individual companies, good practice notes seek to identify general approaches that have been recognized by a number of companies and stakeholders as being good for business and good for human rights.

Background materials: Guidelines for the development and endorsement of Good Practice Notes Engagement Opportunities Completed notes: Setting up a Multi-Stakeholder Panel as a Tool for Effective Stakeholder Dialogue. How Business Can Encourage Governments to Fulfil their Human Rights Obligations. Meeting the Responsibility to Respect in Situations of Conflicting Legal Requirements. Human Rights, Access to Medicines and the Pharmaceutical Industry

Human Rights and Business Case Studies Series – Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice (EHRBP)

The Editorial Board composed of members of the HRWG oversees production the case studies series, Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice, co-published by the UN Global Compact Office and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. Among other things, the Editorial Board is responsible for approving case study concepts and providing peer review. The fourth volume of the publication is currently in development.

Background Materials: Case studies from the previous volumes are available in Business Practices. Template for Business and Human Rights Case Studies Engagement Opportunity

Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum

The UN Global Compact and Maplecroft, with support from the GE Foundation, have launched a dilemma-focused, multi-stakeholder dilemmas forum aimed at identifying good practices from different stakeholders’ perspectives in response to a number of dilemmas businesses face on human rights.  Regular updates are provided to the working group whose members are also invited to be active participants in the dilemmas forum. It is hoped that the good practices identified as a result of this project will feed into the good practice forum referred to above.

3. Special Initiatives

Women's Empowerment Principles

The HRWG provides regular input to this joint initiative of the UN Global Compact and UN Women. More information.

Children’s Rights and Business Principles

The HRWG provides regular input to this joint initiative of the UN Global Compact, UNICEF and Save the Children. More information.

Global Business Initiative on Human Rights (GBI)

The working group provides support to the GBI and feedback and input to its secretariat at regularly scheduled HRWG meetings. The GBI, operated in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, concentrates on the practical implementation of human rights by business and maintains a culture of focused discussions between company members, drawing on human rights expertise. More information about GBI is available here.

4. Local Network Support

An overarching objective of the HRWG is to support Local Networks and their efforts to promote respect and support of human rights in business context. Learn more.

Contact

Ursula Wynhoven
UN Global Compact
wynhoven@un.org
+1-212-963-5705

Lauren Gula
UN Global Compact Office
+1-212-963-1566
gulal@un.org

(Last updated: 16 December 2011)