A/HRC/21/21 VI. Aligning United Nations policies and procedures with the Guiding Principles 75. Like any other organization conducting commercial transactions or engaging in partnerships with business enterprises, the Guiding Principles should apply to the internal policies and procedures of the United Nations, and should be implemented effectively. 76. Internal alignment with the Guiding Principles by the United Nations system should be grounded in the responsibility of avoiding or contributing to human rights abuses, or being involved with such abuse through relationships with business entities. This can also serve to enhance the credibility of the Organization in its efforts to promote the dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles by others. 77. A key concept of the Guiding Principles is the process of exercising due diligence to prevent and address human rights risks arising from business activities. Of particular relevance, this implies having in place processes to identify and address potential or actual adverse human rights impact directly linked to operations, products or services by the Organization’s business relations. Exercising due diligence is also a means to manage risks to the Organization, in particular the risks to its reputation through potential links to any adverse human rights impact. 78. The issue of the Organization’s own responsibility, including with regard to human rights, has been on the agenda of the United Nations since 2003, when a review was carried out to explore the implementation of the Global Compact principles in internal policies. 22 A process was subsequently launched aimed at making the United Nations a leading example of responsible corporate citizenship, as advocated by the Global Compact. 23 Renewed efforts are, however, required, in particular with regard to the integration of human rights considerations in the Organization’s relations with business enterprises. 79. Experiences of implementing the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy on support to non-United Nations security forces, developed under the leadership of OHCHR and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and endorsed by the Secretary-General, may offer lessons learned on human rights due diligence processes in the area of business and human rights. A. Investment management 80. The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund has committed to integrating the 10 Global Compact principles in its activities 24 and is a member of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. 25 The Fund’s current sustainable development action does not, however, refer to human rights principles, and its enterprise-wide risk management policy does not consider environmental, social and governance risks. 26 81. A group of major international investors participating in the Principles for Responsible Investment initiative stated that the Guiding Principles constitute a useful tool for “analysis of how companies address human rights risks” and “enable credible 22 23 24 25 26 The Right Road, A Report to the Under-Secretary-General for Management on the Global Compact and the Practice of the Administration in the United Nations, New York, February 2004. See www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/un_business_partnerships/Internalization Overview_Feb2006.pdf. See www.unjspf.org/UNJSPF_Web/pdf/Agenda_21.pdf. See www.unpri.org. See www.unjspf.org/UNJSPF_Web/pdf/1011120_POLICYF-.pdf. 15