Recommended Tools and Guidance Materials
For a one page slide offering a way in which some of the tools listed here could be used, please click here.
General guidance
A
Human Rights Framework - A joint publication of the UN Global Compact Office, BLIHR, IBLF and
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
, July 2007.
(Arab)
(Chinese)
(English)
(French)
(Russian)
(Spanish
)
This poster captures on one page key good business and human rights management practices that
were elaborated in more detail in
A Guide for Integrating Human Rights Into Business Management (see below), as well as in
the IBLF's publication 'Human Rights: It Is Your Business'. The poster is available in
all UN languages.
Guide for Integrating Human Rights into Business Management - A joint publication of BLIHR,
UN Global Compact Office and Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
, May 2006.
This publication – prepared by business for business – offers practical guidance on how to
implement human rights within business practice. It is based on the accumulated experience of the
ten companies in the BLIHR (ABB, Barclays, Gap, Hewlett-Packard, MTV Networks Europe, National
Grid, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Statoil and The Body Shop International). This experience is
supplemented with practical examples of human rights implementation from other companies including
BP, Carrefour, Cemex, Codelco, Copel, Eskom, Li & Fung (Trading), MAS Holdings, Shell, Taj
Hotels, Tata Enterprises, Telefonica and Valeo. The final publication also benefited substantially
from a wide range of thoughtful feedback provided on a consultation draft.
Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II- A joint publication of the UN Global
Compact Office and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
, January 2008.
The latest edition of this business and human rights case studies series details ways in
which twenty companies from different regions and sectors worldwide are endeavouring to
incorporate human rights into their management practices.
Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice - A joint publication of the UN Global Compact
Office and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
, December 2004.
This publication offers a thorough analysis of the human rights principles from the
perspective of the UN, business, academia and civil society. Its main focus is the practical
meaning of the principles for companies, presenting four detailed case studies and a policy report
on business practice in different industries. The main conclusion drawn from these cases is that
proactive efforts to address human rights concerns better equipped businesses to manage risks and
helps secure and maintain their license to operate.
The Global Compact and Human Rights: Understanding Sphere of Influence and Complicity - an
OHCHR Briefing Paper
, December 2004.
This briefing paper provides a broad overview of the current understanding of what “sphere of
influence” and “complicity” mean in the context of the Global Compact’s human rights
principles.
Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights Matrix
The matrix provides an approach for mapping and assessing the connection between business and
human rights - including which human rights are relevant for business and what is regarded as
'essential', 'expected' or 'desirable' behaviour.
IBLF, Human Rights: Is it any of your Business
This publication - aimed at company managers - offers a comprehensive and practical
introduction to business and human rights and addresses the human rights issues and dilemmas that
affect companies across their operations.
IBLF, Human Rights: It is your Business
This paper summarises societal expectations of business with respect to human rights and
describes evolving good practice on how the corporate response can be managed effectively and
efficiently.
Raising the Bar: Creating Value with the United Nations Global Compact
, June 2004.
This publication lays out a performance model clearly grounded on the total quality
management approach to assist businesses in putting the Global Compact into practice.
Raising the Bar collects together and categorises a wealth of corporate responsibility
tools, good practice and case studies in a structure familiar to anyone aware of business
excellence models and demonstrates that values create value—leadership commitment to the Global
Compact can impact the boardroom and the shop floor, public image and the balance sheet.
Your Guide to the Global Compact - A Resource Package (CD Rom), July 2006.
This third edition of the Global Compact Resource Package is a comprehensive introduction to
the Global Compact and is meant to serve as an awareness-raising tool for the Global Compact and
its underlying principles. It can be used by all that seek background information on the Global
Compact and guidance on the integration of the ten principles in their daily operations. The
resource package includes modules and case studies for each of the Global Compact’s four main issue
areas – Human Rights, Labour, the Environment, and Anti-Corruption as well as the Global Compact
Performance Model, which serves as a roadmap to accompany the Principles. At the end of each
section is a separate resource directory with additional information on the Global Compact and the
subject of corporate citizenship. To order a copy of the CD-Rom please send an email to
globalcompact@un.org
Human rights policies
This part of the website contains links to more than 100 company policy statements explicitly referring to human rights.
Human rights training
This is a web-based learning tool for Global Compact companies on human rights. The learning tool is an entry level interactive learning course for companies on human rights and business. Its objectives are to help managers and CSR professionals in companies participating in the UN Global Compact to understand what human rights are and how they are relevant to their business operations. The tool focuses on the two Global Compact human rights principles and related concepts of spheres of influence and complicity.
The Training Toolkit provides managers with a template that can be used and adapted to conform to a company’s policy or position on human rights and applicable domestic laws and regulations. The Toolkit consists of four sections: a presentation with the key messages for use in a training session; a workbook to be used in conjunction with the presentation; a trainer’s manual; and a resource guide.
Human rights risk assessment
(Best Practice)
The Human Rights Compliance Assessment is a diagnostic tool designed to promote corporate social responsibility by providing companies with useful information about how to avoid human rights violations in all aspects of their operations. It is a practical tool which has been mapped against the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and can assist companies with GRI and Global Compact reporting. The HRCA 'Quick Check' comprises approximately 10% of all the questions contained in the entire HRCA database and relates to some of the most essential human rights issues a company must consider in relation to its activities.
This Guide provides a toolkit that business managers can use to identify, assess and implement responses to human rights challenges in new or evolving business projects. It is a practical tool to bring human rights impact assessment into core business planning and management processes. The Guide provides an eight-step process, namely:
-Step 1: Determine whether a full Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management Process
-Step 2: Identify and clarify the business project context
-Step 3: Set the baseline: articulate the current local picture and conditions
-Step 4: Consult with stakeholders to verify the human rights challenges
-Step 5: Assess the human rights impacts and consequenses
-Step 6: Present the assessment findings and recommendations to management
-Step 7: Implement a human rights management process
-Step 8: Monitor, Evaluate and report on the management process
This Guide can be used in three ways, namely as a risk management tool, an engagement tool and as a decision-making tool. The Guide is a work in progress and is to be tested over the next two years to ensure that it is practical and user-friendly by various companies. The experience gained from the road-testing will be used to further refine the guide. It is planned to have the revised version available in both print and electronic by mid-2009.
The Maplecroft Map on human rights risk uses different colours to show the level of human rights risks that exist in different countries worldwide. The rankings on the human rights index range from low risk to extreme risk. It also indicates whether the trend has been for these risks to decrease, increase or remain the same. Icons with additional information appear in several places on the map, indicating either spotlights on engagement or flashpoints of assosiation, complicity and exposure. To open the map, select 'Human rights risk' on the scroll-down menu.
This is a series of seven detailed world maps, which depict where (in the opinion of IBLF and Amnesty International) human rights abuses and violations exist and where leading North American and European multinational companies are at risk of being associated with them. The suite of maps covers the extractive, food and beverages, pharmaceutical and chemical, infrastructure and utilities, heavy manufacturing and defence, and IT Hardware and telecommunications sectors.
Human rights impact assessment
A
Guide to Human Rights Impact Assessment - a joint publication of the IBLF, IFC and UN Global
Compact Office
June 2007 (FAQs -
English/
French/
Spanish)
(
Executive Overview
)
This Guide provides a toolkit that business managers can use to identify, assess and
implement responses to human rights challenges in new or evolving business projects. It is a
practical tool to bring human rights impact assessment into core business planning and management
processes. The Guide provides an eight-step process, namely:
-Step 1: Determine whether a full Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management Process
-Step 2: Identify and clarify the business project context
-Step 3: Set the baseline: articulate the current local picture and conditions
-Step 4: Consult with stakeholders to verify the human rights challenges
-Step 5: Assess the human rights impacts and consequenses
-Step 6: Present the assessment findings and recommendations to management
-Step 7: Implement a human rights management process
-Step 8: Monitor, Evaluate and report on the management process
This Guide can be used in three ways, namely as a risk management tool, an engagement tool
and as a decision-making tool. The Guide is a work in progress and is to be tested over the next
two years to ensure that it is practical and user-friendly by various companies. The experience
gained from the road-testing will be used to further refine the guide. It is planned to have the
revised version available in both print and electronic by mid-2009.
Feedback on the Guide is welcome and should be directed to Caroline Ersmarker (caroline.ersmarker@iblf.org ). Harcopies are
available from the Global Compact Office
The Danish Institute for Human Rights, Human Rights Compliance Assessment
Tool
(Chinese)
(Danish)
(Dutch)
(English)
(Spanish)
(Ukrainian)
The Human Rights Compliance Assessment is a diagnostic tool designed to promote corporate
social responsibility by providing companies with useful information about how to avoid human
rights violations in all aspects of their operations. It is a practical tool which has been mapped
against the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and can assist companies with GRI
and Global Compact reporting. The HRCA 'Quick Check' comprises approximately 10% of all the
questions contained in the entire HRCA database and relates to some of the most essential human
rights issues a company must consider in relation to its activities.
Other human rights impact assessment tools
Information about other tools for conducting human rights impact assessments can be
accessed at the website of the
Human Rights Impact Assessment
Resource Centre.
Sources of business and human rights information
This comprehensive website is composed of links to a wide range of materials published by: NGOs; companies & business organisations; United Nations, ILO & other intergovernmental organisations; governments & courts; policy experts & academics; social investment analysts; journalists; etc. Updated hourly, the site receives over 1.5 million hits per month (over 47,000 visits per month) from across the world. The site contains materials in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German. - Sign up for free weekly business and human rights email updates! Click here to view the pages on the site that companies have found to be particularly helpful.
Human Rights and Security
These guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Stakeholder engagement
The Manual as a whole is intended to provide practical guidance and support to those practicing stakeholder engagement. The Handbook outlines a comprehensive approach to successful and strategically aligned engagement, and includes a broad range of practical tools and templates. The Guide illuminates various groups’ perspectives on engagement, and provides an in-depth examination of stakeholder engagement processes, their opportunities and challenges. Both documents are based on extensive research, workshops, consultation and on interviews with a total of almost one hundred engagement practitioners from around the world. The Handbook will be available in Russian and Japanese translations. The Handbook is now available in Spanish.
The Handbook offers good practice "essentials" for building and sustaining constructive relationships over time as a means of risk mitigation, new business identification, and enhancing development outcomes. Over thirty case examples from private sector operations across regions and sectors illustrate various aspects of the engagement process, including stakeholder identification and analysis; information disclosure; consultation processes; negotiation and partnerships; grievance management; monitoring and reporting; and management functions. The publication will be available in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian as of July 2007.
Human Rights Reporting
- Global Compact Communication on Progress
- Global Reporting Initiative, Human Rights Indicators
- OHCHR Manual on Human Rights Reporting
-
CSR Europe and BSR, Measuring and Reporting on Corporate Performance on Human
Rights
2001
This joint publication by CSR Europe and Business for Social Responsibility describes efforts to develop ways of measuring companies' performances on human rights. The report sets out why such measurements are important and raises questions concerning the difficulties of quantifying progress.
