The project aims to enhance the protection of human rights and the environment with a special focus on business operations’ impact on them.

It is guided by COE Committee of Minister’s recommendations: CM/Rec(2016)3 on Human Rights and Business built on 2011 UN Guiding Principles, and CM/Rec(2022)20 on Human Rights and the protection of the environment.

Project objectives

1. Equip member states with tools to design and implement measures that enhance human rights, social rights, and environmental compliance in business operations

2. Strengthen human rights, social rights, and environmental protection within businesses processes

Expected outputs and results
  • Businesses have strengthened capacity to consider potential negative impacts (due diligence) on human rights and environment and to eliminate and/or remedy such impact
  • Member states are supported in developing/improving policies and are informed about good practices that help integrate human rights and environment considerations into business operations
  • Those affected by business’ negative impact on human rights and environment have better access to the remedies and the respective institutions (judicial and non-judicial) are better equipped to provide such remedies
Key activities
  • Pilot a knowledge platform that compiles key resources, including case law from the European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe’s and other standards
  • Facilitate peer discussions, training, and knowledge sharing among member states to align national practices on human rights, social rights, and environmental issues in business
  • Develop/upgrade tools to help member states provide access to judicial and non-judicial remedies for victims of business-related human rights and environmental abuses
  • Conduct a comparative analysis of laws and best practices for protecting human rights and the environment in business across several member states
  • Establish an academic forum for researchers focused on human rights, the environment, and business
  • Design communication and awareness actions and simplified explanation of available remedies in selected member states
  • Support businesses and due diligence professionals in understanding human rights, social rights, and environmental standards through a dedicated knowledge platform
Key beneficiaries & stakeholders
  • Public officials and representatives of the relevant institutions of the participating states
  • Business associations, individual businesses, civil society organisations and national institutions dealing with human rights and business

Project information

  • Duration: 15 months (1 October 2024 – 31 December 2025)
  • Countries (multilateral)
  • Funding: Human Rights Trust Fund
Events
12 December 2025

Academic Forum on Human Rights and Business

Online
2 october 2025

The roundtable on Human Rights, Environment and Business: Compliance and responsible conduct as competitive advantages

Paris and Online
18 June 2025

Workshop Human Rights and Environmental Aspects in Mining: state obligations and business opportunities

Yerevan, Armenia
17 June 2025

International Conference Business and Human Rights: Corporate Social Responsibility

Yerevan, Armenia
Project news

Back Responsible Business for Ukraine’s Recovery

Responsible Business for Ukraine’s Recovery

Clare Ovey, Director for Human Rights at the Council of Europe (CoE), accompanied by members of the CoE Secretariat, took part in the Conference Responsible Business for Ukraine’s Recovery: A Path to Sustainable Investment and European Integration. In her keynote address, she stressed that Ukraine’s recovery and European Union (EU) integration should be based on respect for human rights and be people-centred. Environmental and social rights should be viewed as opportunities for resilience and growth. The discussion contributed to broader efforts to position responsible business conduct as a cornerstone of Ukraine’s post-war economic strategy — one aligned with Europe’s sustainability vision, Council of Europe standards, and universal human rights principles.

While in Kyiv, the team also held a number of meetings to reconfirm current collaborations with Ukraine and explore avenues for news ones in the area of Human Rights and Business.

Participation of the CoE team in the Conference was facilitated within the framework of the Human Rights and Environmentally Responsible Business Practices project.

Kiev, UKRAINE 16 october 2025
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