States have a duty to protect against human rights abuses

A new framework being put forward by Professor John Ruggie, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on business and human rights, says that corporations, governments and international organisations must all work to protect and respect human rights, as well as remedy any violations when they occur.

“States have a duty to protect against human rights abuses, including those perpetrated by business. Companies have a responsibility to respect human rights and there is also a need for enhanced access to effective remedy for individuals and communities affected by corporate-related harms,” said Rachel Davis, an advisor to Professor Ruggie.

Ms Davis was one of the panellists at a Human Rights talk at the Commonwealth’s headquarters in London, on how business, governments and international organisations are addressing human rights in the workplace.

Speaking after the event Dr Purna Sen, Head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat, acknowledged that businesses are influential in generating economic growth and reducing poverty, in particular through job creation and investment. “At the same time, excessively permissive environments can foster wrongful acts and human rights abuses that then require remedy. Avoidance is preferable,” she said.

Aidan Davy, Senior Programme Director at the International Council on Mining and Metals, who was another panellist at the 9 March talk, agreed. “States should not assume that they are helping business by not regulating human rights issues,” he said, adding that “regulatory uncertainty is a deterrent to investment.”

Reflecting on developments over the last two decades in the broad business and human rights agenda, Mr Davy emphasised the positive changes he has witnessed. “In 20 years we have developed and improved our understanding of the inter-linkages between business and human rights. There is, however, still much more that could be done.”

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• Human Rights