Business & Human Rights

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a global organization dedicated to promoting human rights in the business world and combating abuse. Our team consists of 12 trustees and over 70 colleagues working in various regions of the world, including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East.

• Research and Reporting: We have regional researchers who investigate the impacts of business activities on the ground and regularly communicate with business people and government officials. We regularly publish briefings and analyses that summarize the work of hundreds of human rights activists worldwide and provide recommendations for companies, governments, regions, and industries[1].

• Corporate Responsibility and Transparency: We support communities and NGOs in holding companies accountable for addressing human rights concerns and provide companies the opportunity to fully disclose their responses. We have made over 6,000 requests to companies asking them to respond to specific human rights allegations and systematically track the companies' responses[1].

• Data and Knowledge Platform: We collect data on the human rights policies and performance of over 10,000 companies in more than 180 countries and make this information publicly available. Our website is the only global knowledge center for business and human rights, providing up-to-date and comprehensive news in 11 languages[1].

Our main mission is to advance human rights in the business world and combat abuse. We are independent of any government, religion, or political and economic interests and do not accept donations from companies or their foundations.

• Impact-Focused: We make a difference for vulnerable people and victims of abuse. We highlight the efforts and struggles of human rights activists and respond quickly and directly to alleged abuses by companies[1].

• Collaborative: We strive to strengthen and support the broad movement for business and human rights by working with allies and partners around the world. We are committed to the Global South, the opening of civic space, and supporting human rights defenders[1].

• Independent and Fair: We are independent and committed to fairly representing all sides of debates about business and human rights. We highlight good practices as well as criticism of corporate impacts and give companies the opportunity to fully respond to allegations of abuse before we publish them[1].

• Access to Remedy: We promote access to remedies to ensure rights-based solutions and prevent future human rights violations. We work to reduce barriers to access to remedies for victims of human rights violations caused or facilitated by companies[2][4].

• Transparency and Accountability: We are committed to the transparency of companies and governments and urge them to make information publicly available. Our website and our weekly newsletter provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on business and human rights[1].

• Gender Justice and Environmental Protection: We promote gender-related considerations in business operations to strengthen the rights of women and non-binary individuals. Additionally, we promote knowledge sharing to encourage actions that address the negative impacts of business operations on the environment, climate, and human rights[2].

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a key player in the global movement for human rights in the business world, making a significant contribution to the promotion of human rights and the fight against abuse through its comprehensive research, reporting, and initiatives.

• 1 - https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/about-us/
• 2 - https://www.undp.org/rolhr/business-and-human-rights
• 3 - https://humanrights.uconn.edu/areas-of-focus/business/
• 4 - https://www.americanbar.org/groups/human_rights/business-human-rights-initiative/key-business-and-human-rights-documents/
• 5 - https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/