Business and Human Rights: Towards a Decade of Global Implementation

Completed in March 2022

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June 2021 marked the tenth anniversary of the endorsement by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

The UNGPs provide a global normative framework backed by UN member states that clarifies state duties and business responsibilities in addressing business related-human rights abuse. Their creation and endorsement represent a major step forward to promoting responsible business in line with international human rights standards.

Since their adoption, they have become the common reference point for efforts to address adverse human rights impacts arising in a business context and have been widely integrated into both public and private sector policy frameworks.

THE UNGP 10+ PROJECT

In the context of this tenth anniversary and as part of its mandate to promote the UNGPs, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights undertook the UNGPs 10+ project to take stock of achievements, assess existing gaps and challenges, and develop a vision and roadmap for implementing the UNGPs in the next decade, based on its ‘stocktaking’ of the first ten years of implementation.

Our Role

The Geneva Academy supported the UN Working Group’s UNGPs 10+ project since its launch in 2020.

This support is part of a wider engagement with various UN Special Procedures that involves reinforced research, stakeholder outreach, and organization of Geneva-based events and consultations. In this case, it aims at supporting the UN Working Group in its work to finalise the UNGPs 10+ roadmap and its roll-out.

NEWS

Peru, Fruit processing plant in Chincha, south of Lima. News

Holding States Accountable for Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

25 March 2022

Our new Working Paper examines existing mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels for holding states accountable for their performance in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

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A Chinese female worker News

A Roadmap to Further the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

9 December 2021

A Geneva Academy research supported the entire process that led to the development of the Roadmap, including support to the stocktaking analysis, roadmap drafting and coordination of the consultation and research process.

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Knitwear Factory in Mymensingh News

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights will Turn 10: Our Contribution

7 July 2020

The Geneva Academy supports the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights' project for the 10th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

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OUTPUT

Contributing to the Roadmap for the Next Decade of Business and Human Rights

On 29 November 2021, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights launched its ‘Roadmap for the Next Decade of Business and Human Rights’. This roadmap aims at providing strategic orientation for states, businesses, civil society, international organizations, and others to make greater headway in translating the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) from policy-level commitments to concrete changes in government and business practice.

Our research supported the entire process that led to its development, including support to the stocktaking analysis, roadmap drafting and coordination of the consultation and research process that generated more than 200 written submissions from states, business organizations, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, law firms, UN entities and others.

Mechanisms for Holding States Accountable for their Performance in UNGPs' Implementation

Our Working Paper Strengthening State Accountability on Business and Human Rights at International Level examines existing mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels for holding states accountable for their performance in implementing the UNGPs. In doing so, the paper analyses gaps and opportunities and formulates a series of recommendations to improve this accountability.

Publications

Cover of the Publication

Strengthening state accountability on business and human rights at international level

March 2022

John E. Grova

The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

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Past Events

Expert Consultation on the Role of Business in Transitional Justice Contexts

23 September 2021, 13:00-15:00

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Virtual Launch UNGPs 10+ Stocktaking Report on Institutional Investment

17 June 2021, 16:00-17:15

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New Report Sheds Light on what Governments, Business and the UN need to do in Conflict-Affected Areas: but what’s Next for this Field?

10 November 2020, 16:00-17:30

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MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

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Introducing the DHRTTD Directory: Revolutionizing Human Rights Implementation with Digital Tools

27 June 2023

To provide the international community with the most up-to-date overview of these online tools and databases, our Geneva Human Rights Platform is proud to unveil its new DHRTTD Directory.

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Our New Visiting Fellow: Professor Claudia Martin

30 June 2023

Professor Claudia Martin just started as Visiting Fellow at the Geneva Academy and will stay with us until the end of July. She tells us in this interview the focus of her research during her time at the Geneva Academy.

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A New Human Rights Tribunal in Town? The Oversight Board and the Future of Online Freedom of Expression

18 October 2023, 18:00-19:30

This Human Rights Conversation will explore the extent to which an independent mechanism such as the Meta Oversight Board is akin to a human rights tribunal and the risks that could be linked to delegating such powers to a private authority.

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2023 Annual Conference: Connecting Geneva and New York for Enhanced Human Rights Protection

21-24 October 2023

The Annual Conference of the Geneva Human Rights Platform will take place in New York to explore the links between Geneva and New York, the relevance of Geneva's outputs in New York debates, and the implications for human rights.

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A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

13-17 November 2023

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

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Prison visit by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Haiti Short Course

The Implementation of International Human Rights Law

7-19 December 2023

This online short course aims at presenting the institutions and procedures in charge of the implementation of international human rights law.

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Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

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Online folders Project

Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

Started in March 2023

This initiative wishes to contribute to better and more coordinated implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights recommendations through a global study on digital human rights tracking tools and databases.

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Cover page of the Working Paper Publication

Exploring Counterterrorism Effectiveness and Human Rights Law

published on September 2023

Gloria Gaggioli, Michael Moncrieff , Ilya Sobol

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