Human Rights and Responsible Business Practices, Phase II
The main objective of the project is to promote responsible business practices, strengthen institutions and improve access to effective remedies in line with international human rights standards.
Main partners and beneficiaries: RRespective ministries, judiciary and policy experts, human rights institutions, ombudspersons, civil society and other national institutions dealing with human rights (including social rights) and business
Alignment with international standards will be strengthened, with relevant authorities and stakeholders gaining a clear understanding of the actions required to align national regulatory and legal frameworks and practices with international and Council of Europe standards on business and human rights.
Businesses will be guided more effectively by the member States to integrate human rights considerations into their operations.
Business enterprises will be empowered to assess and address the human rights impacts of their operations, including through due diligence, by taking appropriate action and integrating stronger human rights performance into their business models, in line with international and Council of Europe standards.
KEY ACTIVITIES
- Develop practical guidance for Member States on implementing human rights in business activities, with a focus on supporting effective policy development and preparing National Action Plans on business and human rights.
- Strengthen the capacity of judicial and non-judicial institutions through updated HELP courses, leveraging materials and information from the Council of Europe Human Rights and Business platform.
- Facilitate academic exchanges on applying human rights standards in business, especially regarding access to effective remedies, and expand the academic network via the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks (OCEAN) for business and human rights.
- Translate the updated HELP course on Business and Human Rights into additional languages, provide tutored courses, and create specialized modules tailored for business audiences to enhance human rights information and education.
- Support the establishment and enhancement of effective remedies, increase awareness of available remedies, and promote a broader understanding of these mechanisms.
- Enhance businesses’ capacity for human rights and environmental due diligence by organizing knowledge exchanges and providing targeted training for due diligence professionals.
- Promote and adapt the updated Business and Human Rights Toolbox for use in other jurisdictions, ensuring broader accessibility.
- Further develop and actively promote the Council of Europe Human Rights and Business platform, gathering tools and information from varied resources including European Court of Human Rights case law and Council of Europe standards.
- Create and maintain dialogue platforms for policymakers and businesses, such as future BRAVE Forums, to share good practices, discuss challenges, and identify practical solutions for aligning business activities with human rights standards.
- Collaborate with selected businesses and associations to develop and pilot methodologies and tools that strengthen internal due diligence mechanisms and integrate human rights and environmental standards into business governance processes
Project Information
- Duration: 01/06/2026 – 30/11/2027
- Country: Multilateral
- Budget: 500 000 EUR
- Funding: Human Rights Trust Fund
