Actions and examples of good practices
States have been engaging in a wide range of initiatives, policies, and actions to implement the UN Guiding Principles and in the field of Human Rights and Business in general. A non-exhaustive selection of these actions appears below.
Responsible Business Conduct in trade missions
All enterprises that wish to indicate an interest in joining a specific trade mission are required to sign a statement on responsible business conduct, which refers to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the complaints procedure before the German NCP. It is aimed to increased...
Information portal on BHR and CSR
A comprehensive web page operated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade makes available all necessary information on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) including the Czech National Action Plan, the UN Guiding Principles and other materials from the Czech...
Advisory Board for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility
The basic function of the Advisory Board is to create a space for dialogue and exchange of experiences between the public administration, social partners, NGOs and the academic environment in the field of corporate social responsibility and responsible business conduct (CSR/RBC). The Advisory...
Workplace Relations Commission
Ireland’s employment rights legislation is monitored and enforced by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC is Ireland’s independent, statutory body for workplace relations services which was established under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. Core services include: the provision of...
Training on BHR issues for Judicial Officials
The National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution provides continuous training for a wide range of judicial officials and has run specific session relating to human rights in the interest of supplementing their expertise and professional skills in these areas. The 2019 timetable provides...
Mapping of State-based judicial and non judicial remedy mechanisms
The project sought to map State-based judicial mechanisms and State-based non-judicial mechanisms, and to identify the barriers to access to effective remedy. It consisted of three parts: A mapping of the procedural and material aspects of available judicial and non-judicial mechanisms for...
Brochure on the responsibility of business enterprises for human rights violations: Access to justice and the courts
The brochure provides an orientation to the legal remedies for injured or affected parties under German civil law; and aims to provide answers for the following questions, illustrated by practical case studies: When does a German court have jurisdiction? What conditions determine whether a claim...
Due Diligence under the Swiss Insurance against Export Risks Act (LASRE) and its Ordinance (OASRE)
As part of its activities, SERV respects Switzerland's commitments to public international law and Switzerland's foreign policy principles, including respect for human rights and the preservation of natural resources. Since 1 January 2016, the LASRE Ordinance expressly establishes the requirement...
Class Action Act
One of the main aims of this act is to enable an easier access to justice for individuals in the cases of mass harm situations act is applied. In particular, in these cases the damages individuals my recieve is often very low in comparison to court and lawyers’ fees, therefore individuals often...
Explaining Human Rights Due Diligence
The five core elements are: A Policy statement on meeting their responsibility to respect human rights, adopted by the senior management of the enterprise; to be communicated both internally and externally. Procedures for the identification of actual and potential adverse impacts on human rights...
ExperTS Programme
The "ExperTS" work in German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and advise German, European and local companies on development policy issues in around 30 developing countries and emerging economies. They work at the interface between development cooperation and foreign trade promotion. As local...
Training and awareness raising for Business Entities
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs have comissioned the management and consultancy firm "twentyfifty" to organise awareness-raising events and trainings on the theme "business and human rights" for companies,...
Federal Law on Public Procurement (LMP) and its Ordinance (OMP)
Under this law, when the Confederation concludes public contracts, the companies must respect the provisions relating to the protection of workers and the working conditions in force at the place where the service is provided. For services provided in Switzerland, the contracting authority may...
Federal Law on Private Security Provision Abroad (LPSP) and its Ordinance (OPSP)
As part of the implementation of the LPSP, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs raises awareness of the companies concerned, strengthens the exchanges between the Swiss State institutions, and is committed at the international level to promote good practices and adherence to the ICoCA. The...
International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) Agreements
Businesses that sign IRBC agreements work with Government, unions and NGOs to prevent abuses. In the agreement, the parties identify the problems that arise in the sector. They then describe how they intend to prevent abuses, and what each of the parties will do to work towards that aim. The...
Partnership with Industry for the translation of OECD Guidance
Established in August 2017, the partnership comprised 14 members from public administration entities, business representatives, industry organisations and civil society organisations. The Polish version of the OECD Guidance was then launched in June 2018 during a dedicated conference on the issue...
Non-Contentious Procedure Act
The changes introduced by the act also provide for possibilities to include organizations that care for the benefits of children in the legal procedure, for example the human rights ombudsman and experts that can ensure that the interests and voice of children are fully represented in the legal...
Platform for supporting women entrepreneurs
Along with the Private Sector Development Advisory Board, the Ministry created a Sub-Council for Promoting Women Entrepreneurship which aims to identify challenges and ways to overcome them. Two sessions of the subcommittee were held in 2019, attendees included women entrepreneurs from state...
Commodity Trading Sector: a guide to good practice
Published in 2018, the guide is the result of a multi-stakeholder dialogue with NGOs, the private sector and the authorities of the Canton of Geneva, and was prepared jointly with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) in London. The guide provides background, explanations and...
Gender balanced representation on boards of directors and professional equality
Originally, in companies whose shares were admitted to a regulated market, the proportion of female and male directors had to be at least 20%. This proportion must have reached at least 40% at the end of the first ordinary general meeting following January 1, 2017. Any appointment or appointment...
Human Rights and Business
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