A/HRC/21/21
III. Convergence of international standards and processes
12.
The unanimous endorsement of the Guiding Principles by the Human Rights
Council and the broad support that they have received from all stakeholders have made
them an authoritative and broadly accepted basis, both inside and outside the remit of the
United Nations, for moving the business and human rights agenda to a new stage, focused
on ensuring effective implementation.
13.
Global standards and initiatives on business and human rights are already
converging around the Guiding Principles. The corporate responsibility to respect human
rights as set out in the Guiding Principles has been incorporated into efforts involving
United Nations system entities, such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible
Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food
Security of the Committee on World Food Security, and the revised Sustainability
Framework of the International Finance Corporation.
14.
The Global Compact, the platform of the United Nations for engaging the business
sector, including in support of human rights, has stated that the Guiding Principles elaborate
on the component of the Compact’s principle focused on business respect for human rights.
In 2012, the Global Compact, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
and Save the Children, launched the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, which build
on the Guiding Principles to provide guidance for businesses on respecting and supporting
children’s rights in their operations.
15.
Outside the United Nations, various core elements of the Guiding Principles have
been included in such key standards as the updated Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and social responsibility
standard ISO 26000 of the International Standardization Organization.
16.
Efforts to promote the dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles
are taking form across stakeholder groups, including at the level of regional organizations
and Member States, and by the business sector, national human rights institutions and civil
society.5
IV. Activities of the United Nations relevant to business and
human rights
17.
The activities of the United Nations relevant to the business and human rights
agenda have, to a large extent, been centred on normative development and advocacy.
Other efforts have revolved around providing stakeholders with support and, to a lesser
extent, promoting dialogue.
A.
Standard setting and advocacy
18.
OHCHR provided substantive support to the process of developing the Guiding
Principles. It continues to support and collaborate with the Working Group and other parts
of the international human rights system, as well as engaging with other institutions and
initiatives to promote the Guiding Principles. The High Commissioner has also, on several
occasions, called on the business community to integrate respect for human rights in
5
A/HRC/20/29, paras. 22-40.
5
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