The Global Compact and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right

The mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is to spearhead efforts of people worldwide for the promotion and protection of human rights so that everyone can live in a society shaped and governed in the image of the international human rights standards agreed upon by the United Nations. In short: the pursuance of human rights strategies of governance.

Aims

In pursuing this mission, OHCHR has four strategic aims:

to enhance the effectiveness of the UN human rights machinery;
to increase UN system-wide implementation and co-ordination of human rights;
to build national regional and international capacity to promote and protect human rights; and
to analyze, process and disseminate reports, recommendations and resolutions of UN human rights organs and bodies, as well as other relevant human rights information.

The Secretary-General's Global Compact initiative has provided a valuable framework of OHCHR in its effort to develop a successful approach for engaging the corporate sector on the issue of human rights. OHCHR is focusing its activities in this area on the following:

Providing Information and Education
Business leaders are rapidly becoming better informed and supportive of human rights as a critical part of social responsibility. However, many are still unaware or ill-informed. OHCHR believes that it can contribute significantly to enhancing business knowledge by providing timely and "user-friendly" information to the corporate sector on UN human rights standards and their implementation mechanisms. More accurate information could help remove the hesitations regarding human rights, which currently exist in the business community. Information is also essential for the human rights constituency to enable it to appreciate the spirit and objectives of UN involvement with business in the area of human rights.

To achieve this, OHCHR is working with key partners such as Business for Social Responsibility and the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum to develop human rights information materials specifically intended for business both as part of the new Global Compact website and for other related initiatives. OHCHR is working with Business for Social Responsibility on a concise "stock taking" paper to review the major developments in the human rights dimension of corporate social responsibility for presentation to the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2000. OHCHR is also encouraging dialogue between the business community and human rights advocates to share experiences and plan future cooperation in this are.

Recognizing Good Practices
Identifying and recognizing good business practices which have positive impacts on human rights is seen by many business leaders and OHCHR as an effective way of stimulating others to take action.

OHCHR is exploring with interest partners the development of a process, which would identify criteria for good practice and propose appropriate methods for selection and recognition.

Supporting Codes of Conduct and Auditing Procedures
Individual companies, business associations and government/business alliances are increasingly including human rights provisions into company and sector-wide codes and establishing auditing procedures to ensure their implementation. It is important that such codes accurately reflect international human rights standards and that auditing procedures have full access to United Nations reporting information.

Ensuring Accountability for Human Rights Violations
Business do become involved in violations of human rights and are increasingly the object of reports by non-governmental organizations. Within the United Nations human rights system, such allegations are also being addressed. While not undermining the responsibility of States, OHCHR believes that it is of vital importance to deal more effectively with violations committed by private entities.

OHCHR is working to sensitize the existing UN implementation mechanisms to the private sector aspects of violations. More broadly, OHCHR is consulting with other relevant organizations to explore ways of dealing more effectively with alleged corporate complicity in violations without recreating the adversarial relations of the past.

Ensuring Accountability for Human Rights Violations
In some countries, business are involved in developing products and services especially for less advantaged parts of society which contribute tangibly to the realization of human rights. Many businesses are also active partners in the communities in which they operate by offering employment, training and other social projects, also enhancing the enjoyment of human rights for individuals.

OHCHR will encourage business to undertake such projects and integrate those ideas into its work on the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights.

For further information, contact:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Ms. Lene Wendland
Tel.: (41 22) 917-9132
Fax: (41 22) 917-9012
E-mail: lwendland@ohchr.org