New Publication: Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II

(New York, 27 March 2008) – The Global Compact Office and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have announced the release of the second edition in the Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice series. The publication has been produced in the context of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and features 20 case studies from Global Compact signatories around the world outlining policies and practices to implement human rights within their own operations and spheres of influence. 

Stressing the relevance of the issue for the private sector, Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II aims to help establish the business case for human rights and inspire businesses all over the world to raise the level of their human rights performance.
As such, the publication represents an important contribution to information and knowledge sharing for companies.

Organized around a coherent human rights management framework, Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II advocates a systematic approach to supporting and respecting human rights. Among the companies profiled are: ABB, Achilles, Anglogold Ashanti, AREVA, Barloworld, BASF, Eskom, Ipek Kagit, Ketchum, MAS Holdings, Newmont Mining Corporation, NIKE Inc, Novartis, Sasol, Royal Dutch Shell, Starbucks, Titan Industries, Volkswagen and Westpac Banking Corporation.

Readers are encouraged to make their own assessment of whether the practices the case studies describe constitute good practice. Commentary on the case studies is welcome and will be included on the Global Compact website. Please send comments to globalcompact@un.org with the subject heading “Comments on Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice II.”

Download a PDF of the publication here.

For a hardcopy of this publication, or for more information, please contact

Ursula Wynhoven
UN Global Compact Office
wynhoven@un.org