Skip links
VNR

Human rights are universal and every person around the world deserves to be treated with dignity and equality. While Governments have the duty to protect individuals against human rights abuses by third parties, businesses are recognizing their legal, moral, and commercial need to get involved. In an increasingly interconnected world, there is closer scrutiny of corporate impact on people and communities. Companies that focus on protecting human rights — and cultivate positive relationships with their stakeholders — can help ensure their business’ continued growth and social license to operate.

 

The human rights principles (Principles 1 and 2) of the UN Global Compact are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We call on companies to respect and support internationally-proclaimed human rights, and to ensure they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator

Media organizations, employees, consumers, clients, partners, NGOs and investors are increasingly taking note of corporate impacts on human rights. In response, responsible businesses are looking for ways to actively respect human rights and prevent negative human rights impacts — while managing their reputation. How does your company know and show that it respects human rights?

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a six-month programme that activates participating companies of the UN Global Compact across industries and regions to move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights. Through identifying salient human rights impacts, establishing an ongoing due diligence process and developing an actionable plan, the Business & Human Rights Accelerator will empower your company to advance its human rights journey.

PROGRAMME BENEFITS

  • Identify and assess your company’s actual or potential adverse human rights impacts
  • Learn how to integrate those findings across processes and take appropriate action
  • Track the effectiveness of measures and processes to know if they are working
  • Communicate how impacts are being addressed and show stakeholders that your company is taking action and seeing results

Build a network of peers, UN partners and experts to support your human rights journey and work collectively to tackle persistent barrires to implementing an effective human rights due diligence process

To learn more about Human Rights and view the UN Global Compact library on Human Rights, please visit the link below:

Learn More

The Global Compact Network South Africa supports the Minerals Council South Africa in implementing a Human Rights Framework in the sector to ensure that companies within the industry comply with Human Rights standards both in their operations and supply chains. Through the partnership, there will be a host of seminars throughout the year to discuss the contents of the Framework, importance of the Bill of Rights, understanding the South African Constitution, the UN Global Principles on Business and Human Rights, Social Performance and Human Rights, and Responsible Sourcing and Human Rights. The first virtual seminar was held in June 2020 with a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on Human Rights. The second three-day seminar was held at the end of July.

To learn more about Human Rights and view the UN Global Compact library on Human Rights, please visit the link below:

Learn More

The United Nations Global Compact has developed a platform which builds an alliance of companies committed to respecting Human Rights and Labour Rights by leveraging their supply chains and taking collective action to address decent work deficits. For more information or on the Decent Work Toolkit, please go to the UN Global Compact Decent Work in Global Supply Chains.

Learn More