A/HRC/26/20
diligence in the context of economic activities and ensuring that risks to vulnerable groups
or communities are considered, providing technical assistance and supporting relevant
research (A/HRC/21/21 and Corr.1, para. 42). The Secretary-General has recommended
that resident coordinators take the lead at the national level, in collaboration with OHCHR
where possible, to integrate the Guiding Principles into relevant activities (ibid., para. 43).
39.
In that respect, the Secretary-General notes that some country teams have taken up
the business and human rights agenda and integrated the Guiding Principles or elements
thereof into their work, specifically in the context of policies relating to development of the
extractive industries and potentially adverse impacts associated with that sector. However, a
coordinated strategy for ensuring that resident coordinators and country teams integrate the
business and human rights agenda in their work is still lacking and, in its absence,
integration at the country level still appears to be fragmented. It would be helpful for
human rights advisers deployed at the request of resident coordinators to receive targeted
training in business and human rights. However, further coordinated action at the executive
level of the United Nations will also be needed.
D.
Trade and investment
40.
The Guiding Principles can help to ensure that business-focused trade and
investment policies and standards contribute to, and do not result in advance impacts on,
human rights. The former Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of
human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises recognized in
particular the issue of State-investor contracts as a key potential lever to identify, prevent
and mitigate adverse human rights impacts (see A/HRC/17/31/Add.3, annex).
41.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) can
advance the business and human right agenda by ensuring integration of the Guiding
Principles into policy guidance and capacity-building efforts. For example, in 2013,
UNCTAD organized a conference on corporate social responsibility for business
participants, in which the Guiding Principles were featured.
42.
Within the United Nations system, the United Nations Commission on International
Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has a mandate to develop rules and regulations governing
international trade, in collaboration with the World Trade Organization. UNCITRAL offers
an important entry point for integrating the Guiding Principles. UNCITRAL also has
significant technical expertise on the issue of corporate and trade law, and would be well
placed to take the lead on examining how the Guiding Principles are implemented by States
through law-making at national levels. UNCITRAL could support activities of the Working
Group on business and human rights on the issue of State legislative implementation, in the
context of the Working Group’s activities on State national action plans for the
implementation of the Guiding Principles. That could help close a significant information
gap on the level of implementation of the Guiding Principles, and support capacity-building
with States.
E.
Labour
43.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) continues to contribute to the
implementation of all three pillars of the Guiding Principles as part of its specific mandate
within the United Nations system, drawing on its tripartite structure and standard-setting
and supervisory machinery. ILO continues to provide technical support on the protection of
workers’ rights and sustainable enterprise development to its tripartite constituents in its
member States. It also builds the capacity of employers’ and workers’ organizations on a
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