A/HRC/17/32 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 27 May 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Seventeenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, John Ruggie Business and human rights in conflict-affected regions: challenges and options towards State responses* Summary The most egregious business-related human rights abuses take place in conflictaffected areas and other situations of widespread violence. Human rights abuses may spark or intensify conflict, and conflict may in turn lead to further human rights abuses. The gravity of the human rights abuses demands a response, yet in conflict zones the international human rights regime cannot possibly be expected to function as intended. Such situations require that States take action as a matter of urgency, but there remains a lack of clarity among States with regard to what innovative, proactive and, above all, practical policies and tools have the greatest potential for preventing or mitigating businessrelated abuses in situations of conflict. In the present report, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises outlines a range of policy options that home, host and neighbouring States have, or could develop, to prevent and deter corporate-related human rights abuses in conflict contexts. * The present report was submitted late in order that the most up-to-date information could be included. GE.11-13563