View the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
Development
Main Coordinating Authority
Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (formerly Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development)
Drafting Process
The national action plan was drafted over a period of three and half years, with a series of multistakeholder consultations and interdepartmental reviews.
- In 2013 the French government commissioned its National Human Rights Institution - the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) - to provide guidance toward the development of the action plan. The CNCDH presented 18 recommendations concerning Pillar I and 44 recommendations on Pillar III.
- An interministerial working group was established to examine the proposals of the CNCDH, led by the ambassador in charge of corporate social responsibility. This group identified those recommendations which had been largely implemented by the Government and so could be reinforced, those which could be the subject of complementary proposals for action, and finally those which required review or application in a more relevant setting.
- Simultaneously, the National Platform for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was created in 2013 following a request from representatives of organisations of employers, employees and civil society. The National Platform serves as a forum for dialogue and consultation involving actors from civil society, private entities, and public authorities. The first recommendations stemming from the National Platform for CSR also helped to structure and supplement the draft action plan proposals.
- In July 2015 a first version of the National Action Plan was validated by the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and then transmitted to the CSR Platform (in which the CNCDH is also represented) for consultation with stakeholders. Twelve meetings of the interdepartmental working group were also conducted over the course of 2015-2016 on the document.
- The CSR Platform subsequently published its opinion on the National Action Plan in 2016, adopted at its plenary assembly, and the plan then was sent to the Prime Minister in December 2016. The national action plan was officially published in April 2017 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development
Content
Main Priorities / Focus areas in the Action Plan
Pillar I - State Duty to Protect
The relevant chapter outlines the applicable international, regional frameworks; and under the national framework, examines topics such as:
- The reinforcement of legislation.
- The inter-ministerial exemplary administration action plan and the national action plan for sustainable public procurement.
- The French platform for promoting global action on corporate social responsibility.
- The role of public agencies.
- Reinforced risk analysis and information.
- Economic sectors and human rights.
Pillar II: Corporate Responsibility to Respect
The chapter in the NAP is divided into the following themes:
- Drawing up of charters.
- Training and awareness within companies.
- Risk analysis and impact assessment.
- Promotion of international framework agreements.
- Role of staff representatives.
- Reporting.
Pillar III: Access to Remedy
The chapter details the relevant international, regional and national remedy mechanisms, separated into judicial and non-judicial categories; and makes a specific reference to whistleblower rights and the denial of justice.
Under each heading within its chapters it sets out the domestic context including actions underway and introduces proposals for action.
Review and Monitoring
Two interdepartmental follow-up meetings on the National Action Plan were held in September 2017 and June 2018, bringing together representatives of six Ministries and agencies, as well as the CNCDH for the first meeting. At these meetings the participants could report on the state of progress in their field, and to review each of the actions within the NAP.
The CNCDH has been appointed as the evaluator of the National Action Plan, in accordance with the recommendation of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and will be evaluating the policy implemented and issuing periodic reports.
The first periodic report is expected towards the end of 2019.
