All companies have a responsibility to respect human rights. Enlightened companies recognize that it is not only the moral thing to do, but also the smart thing to do for their business.

Your first step is to develop a human rights policy. This is the public expression of your company’s commitment to respect internationally recognized human rights standards.

Different companies may have different types of human rights policies. However, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide some essential elements as the global reference point for business and human rights.

To learn about how to develop a human rights policy, see A Guide for Business: How to Develop a Human Rights Policy.