UN-BHR

Paper: Governments Fail to Advance Global Governance Under UNGPs

October 22, 2014

A paper by Susan Ariel Aaronson and Ian Higham argues that governments are failing to pressure businesses to carry out their responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("UNGPs"), a mechanism advancing global governance of business and human rights issues.
Commentator Identifies UNGPs as Source of Legal CSR Obligations

October 17, 2014

In a chapter on corporate social responsibility ("CSR") in the extractive sector, Yousuf Aftab writes that concepts proliferated in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("UNGPs") and other international frameworks will place legal responsibilities on corporations to observe CSR in their operations.
Article Calls for Additional Corporate Apparatus on BHR

October 17, 2014

An article by a staff member of the Institute of Policy Research and Advocacy calls for companies to advance the international business and human rights ("BHR") agenda by establishing an initiative specifically devoted to BHR issues, separate from those promoting corporate social responsibility.
UN Works to Institutionalize U.S. Action Plan on BHR

October 08, 2014

The UN Working Group on business and human rights ("BHR") has applauded the Obama Administration for announcing that it will develop a "national action plan" on BHR issues and has signaled that it will seek to institutionalize this plan at the international level so it will continue to be implemented in future administrations.
Academics Call for Robust U.S. Action Plan on BHR

October 08, 2014

The Directors of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights ("BHR") have called upon President Obama "to set the standard for government action" on international BHR principles in the coming U.S. BHR national action plan, including bolstering U.S. foreign policy to prevent human rights violations.
Activists Call for International Arbitration Tribunal on BHR

October 08, 2014

In recent remarks, Claes Cronstedt, who is on a nongovernmental "working group" on business and human rights ("BHR") arbitration, called for the establishment of an international arbitration tribunal with the authority to issue binding decisions in BHR disputes.
U.S. Will Develop National Action Plan for BHR Implementation

October 01, 2014

President Barack Obama has announced that the U.S. will develop a formal National Action Plan to implement the principles set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR") and the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises.
UN, African Union Agree to Implement BHR Principles

September 24, 2014

In the first "African Forum on Business and Human Rights," officials from the UN and the African Union agreed to implement internationally developed principles on business and human rights ("BHR") in Africa, including placing pressure on governments to develop "national action plans" on BHR principles.
NGOs Claim Legal Duty to Regulate BHR Abroad

September 17, 2014

A group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") have published a report asserting that governments have an obligation under international law to prevent violations of business and human rights ("BHR") principles that occur on foreign soil.
Working Group Chair Expands Mandate on BHR Principles

September 10, 2014

At a conference in London, the Chairman of the UN Working Group on business and human rights ("BHR") said he and other members interpreted their mandate from the UN Human Rights Council in "imaginative ways" to push governments and businesses to provide access to remedies for alleged BHR violations.