According to the most recent survey of companies participating in the UN Global Compact, over 90% of surveyed companies report to have established policies and practices on human rights, but less than 20% say that they conduct human rights due diligence or impact assessments. In order to protect human rights, businesses need to have a comprehensive understanding of their human rights impacts, both positive and negative.

This tool helps companies understand the basics of human rights and their relevance for business, as well as the key elements of respecting and supporting human rights in practice. Throughout the three modules, this e-learning tool will help you understand the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and their relation to the first two principles of the UN Global Compact on respecting and supporting human rights. It will also provide guidance on managing risks related to potential complicity in human rights abuses by your company.

Module 1: Respecting Human Rights

By completing this session and related learning materials, you will learn about:

• What it means to respect human rights

• How your company can advance the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact related to human rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other frameworks 

• How to conduct human rights due diligence

Module 2: Supporting Human Rights

By completing this session and related learning materials, you will learn about:

• How to identify the most effective ways of supporting and advancing human rights

• Practical case examples of companies’ positive and negative human rights impacts and related actions

Module 3: Complicity

By completing this session and related learning materials, you will learn about:

• The concept of complicity in human rights abuses

• Identifying risks of complicity in your own company’s operations

• How your company can become aware of, prevent and address risks of complicity