In June 2014, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted a new Protocol on Forced Labour. As an international response to combat contemporary forms of slavery and forced labour more effectively, the Protocol creates new legal obligations to prevent forced labour, to protect victims, and to provide access to remedy. Conducted by ILO experts, this webinar provides insight into the Protocol and discusses the role of business in its implementation, including in global efforts to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.

This compilation includes examples of approaches that multiple companies in the textile and garments, cocoa, tourism and/or mining sectors have adopted to prevent and remediate child labour. These examples were identified on the basis of information obtained from the CLP companies, as well as through workshops with a wider group of corporate representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

A summary of human rights guidance materials to deepen your understanding of the first two Global Compact principles and the concepts of due diligence, sphere of influence and complicity.

One of the early questions a company must answer in meeting its corporate responsibility to respect human rights is deciding how it will organize the human rights function internally to effectively drive the process of embedding respect for human (including labor) rights. This Good Practice Note surveys a number of company experiences in organizing the human rights function internally; based on those experiences, it draws out some ‘emerging good practice guidance’ for companies, highlighting a series of questions that may help inform corporate decision-making on how best to organize the human rights function.

Describes how National Human Rights Institutions and Global Compact Local Networks can collaborate to help businesses understand and meet their human rights responsibilities and commitments.

Explores the challenges responsible businesses can face when addressing gender-based discrimination and promoting gender equality in their operations and supply chains. In particular, the webinar examines how companies can responsibly navigate this issue where local cultural, legal and/or business norms permit or promote discrimination. Additionally, the webinar explores a range of relevant good practice – including the integration of the Women’s Empowerment Principles into business policies and practices – as well as examples of multi-national companies that have addressed this issue.

Provides an overview on the relationship between the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact’s Human Rights Principles.

As a result of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, businesses regardless of sector are paying greater attention to the actual and potential human rights impacts of their operations and business relationships on stakeholders. This webinar co-hosted by the UN Global Compact and the Danish Institute for Human Rights explored the various types of Human Rights Impact Assessments, including company, community and sector-based, analyzing both the impetus behind the assessments as well as lessons learned.

The right of indigenous peoples to give or withhold free, prior, and informed consent (“FPIC”) for the use of their lands, resources, traditional knowledge, or intellectual property is among the special protections for indigenous peoples. This Good Practice Note provides background on the history of FPIC, without taking a definitive viewpoint on its legal status. The Note also explores the business case for obtaining FPIC and the challenges that are likely to arise in the process; outlines current company good practices to obtain FPIC; and discusses emerging practices that not only support FPIC but also long-term benefits for affected indigenous communities.

The WEPs video, Equality Means Business, features compelling business leaders and others from around the world who make the case for implementing the 7 Principles and the importance of realizing gender equality. Share the WEPs Video with your network or screen either the short (2.46 min) or long version (5.46 min) below.

Frequently, human rights impacts experienced by peoples and communities are cumulative impacts, that is, the result of the combined actions of several companies or other actors. However, these impacts may not be picked up by corporate risk assessments, or may not be viewed through a human rights lens; further, government action may be lacking. How should a responsible company identify and address its incremental contribution to a cumulative human rights impact? How can it engage with other contributors, whether other companies, government or others to mitigate remaining impact? This webinar addresses challenges and best practices in respect of cumulative human rights impacts.

This webinar explores how corporate sustainability personnel can and are influencing their colleagues, playing a proactive role to help their organizations meet the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and create shared value for their business and society. The webinar features an interview with Christine Bader the author of a recently released book on an idealist working inside corporations to advance Human Rights. Additionally, corporate perspectives on winning over colleagues to the human rights agenda are featured as well as effective strategies for change from within.