A/HRC/35/32 conduct and shape a global level playing field.60 The Working Group has also called on the member States of the Group to show leadership in promoting implementation of the Guiding Principles by States and business enterprises to advance sustainable supply chains. Such commitment by the Group would build upon the Group of Seven declaration of 2015, in which States expressed their strong support for the Guiding Principles, urging implementation of human rights due diligence by business enterprises and committing to increase their support to help small and medium-sized enterprises develop a common understanding of due diligence and responsible supply chain management. 61 50. National human rights institutions have also led the way in championing guidance on human rights for business enterprises. The United Kingdom Equality and Human Rights Commission, for example, has published guidance on why human rights are important for business enterprises 62 and specific guidance tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises. 63 Equally, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has promoted human rights-oriented management culture for these enterprises. 64 D. Role of trade unions 51. Trade unions play an integral part in the protection of workers human rights and have often been at the forefront or protecting human rights through the participation of their members. In its 2016 Global Rights Index report, entitled “The world’s worst countries for workers”, the International Trade Union Confederation highlighted four human rights areas where State actions had violated individuals human rights. These included: large-scale exclusion of workers; the violation of the right to collective bargaining, free speech and public protests; and an increase in violence. The Confederation has also published specialized reports that focus on areas of key concerns to trade unions and offer concrete recommendations through identifying problems. E. Role of business initiatives and associations 52. Business and peer group associations can play an important role in harnessing the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises to develop their capacity to respect human rights. Business associations such as the International Organization of Employers, which claims its member organizations represent a range of businesses — including small and medium-sized enterprises — in 150 countries, are well placed to raise awareness of and promote implementation of the Guiding Principles within the business community. In providing support in terms of training, advice, resources such as benchmarking, and communication standards and indicators, business associations provide such enterprises with opportunities to understand the requirements of the Guiding Principles and to bring together enterprises of similar size and focus and within the same geographical context. 53. The International Chamber of Commerce actively encourages its members to integrate United Nations human rights initiatives into their policies and programmes, and has provided specific information and guidance on human rights to its members. 65 60 61 62 63 64 65 14 See www.b20germany.org/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/B20/b20-handout-recommendationssdgs.pdf. See https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/7320LEADERS%20 STATEMENT_FINAL_CLEAN.pdf. See also www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID =16070&LangID=E. See https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/a_guide_to_business_ and_human_rights_1_1.pdf. See https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/fairness_dignity_and_respect _in_sme_workplaces.pdf. See www.humanrights.go.kr/site/program/board/basicboard/view?menuid=002002001& boardtypeid=7003&boardid=7001698. See https://iccwbo.org/global-issues-trends/global-governance/business-and-the-united-nations/.