Publications by Tag: Human Rights
Blog
Time to Open the Myanmar Office?
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
When creating corporate human rights strategies, it is common to assess the risk inherent in the countries where that company operates and establish plans to mitigate that risk. An easy part has always been the no-go list—countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Syria are usually best avoided altogether. Myanmar has traditionally been on that list. Read more
Learning the Right Lessons From the Apple Story
Aron Cramer, President and CEO
A decade ago, Apple made a splash with its “Think Different” advertising campaign. Today, with Apple in the headlines concerning labor conditions in its supply chain, it’s time for all of us to think different about how to improve the lives of the millions of workers making the products that drive our global economy. While it’s tempting to point to particular companies as the core of the problem, the reality—and the solutions—are much broader and much more complex. Read more
Conflict Minerals and Local Development Concerns
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
Note: This is the second of three blogs highlighting the critical issues that risk getting lost in the rush to implement due diligence on conflict minerals. Our first blog discussed the local impacts of supply chain policies, and the next will explore the connection with global responsible sourcing issues. Read more
China Takes on Labor Disputes With New Regulations
Jason Ho, Manager, Advisory Services & CTI
With ongoing and increasing labor disputes between workers and enterprises in China, the Chinese government has released new regulations on consultation and mediation for labor disputes in business. The hope is that these new regulations will help improve the timeliness and effectiveness of resolving labor disputes as civil courts and arbitration committees have been overwhelmed with labor cases. Read more
During Tough Economic Times, Is It Time to Focus on the Fundamentals?
At the BSR Conference this year, I moderated a lively, insightful, and solutions-focused panel on “Child Labor, Culture, and Compliance.” Given the breadth of private, public, and civil society experience among our panelists and the audience, we were able to come up with some concrete solutions, including the sharing of effective monitoring tools and early-warning systems to pick up and respond swiftly to instances of child labor, and to outline what good remediation looks like—which, in this instance, is about giving a child laborer his or her life back. Read more
Help Shape the UN Business and Human Rights Agenda
Christine Bader, Human Rights Advisor
The Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, which outline ways for companies and governments to prevent and address human rights abuses, were endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June. Read more
An Expert’s View on Labor Trends in China
Jason Ho, Manager, Advisory Services & CTI
I recently sat down with legal expert and Shenzhen University Professor Hou Lingling to discuss the implications of China’s 12th five-year plan. In particular, we focused on the new social insurance law, which guarantees five social insurances for workers, including: pension, unemployment, work injury, medical care, and maternity leave regardless of non-local residency. We also spoke about the collective bargaining mechanisms (CBM) that were developed in response to demands from a new generation of workers that is more conscious of their rights and frequently using collective action against their employers. Read more
Human Rights in the Supreme Court: How Should Companies Respond?
Peter Nestor, Associate, Advisory Services
The U.S. Supreme Court decided last week to review a contentious case involving corporate liability for alleged human rights abuses committed abroad. A decision that corporations can be liable in U.S. courts could leave several companies with international operations exposed to potential liability. How should companies respond? Read more
In Your Words: Christine Bader on Leadership
Christine Bader, BSR Advisor
This guest blog is part of BSR's ongoing series exploring what leadership for sustainability looks like in today's world.
Migration and Development: Whose Responsibility Are They Anyway?
Jennifer Schappert, Associate, Advisory Services
The question of whose responsibility are migration and development was asked repeatedly during the recent Global Form on Migration and Development (GMFD) multi-stakeholder meeting. The meeting, hosted by BSR, the Swiss Foreign Ministry, and the World Trade Institute, brought together approximately 100 representatives from business, government, and academia to discuss the links between migration, trade, and development and to examine the role of each actor in promoting the human development of migrant workers. Read more
Ten Years Later: Human Rights in a Post-9/11 World
At the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, I was in Montreal attending the CIVICUS World Assembly, an annual gathering of more than 900 civil society organizations (CSOs), including NGOs, trade unions, and faith-based organizations. Looking at various U.S. newspapers and my Facebook feed that morning, the reporting centered on the senseless deaths of that tragic day, people discussing where they were at that exact moment, and those that they had lost. All the coverage made me realize that the wounds remain fresh 10 years and two difficult wars later. Read more
Regulating Supply Chain Sustainability
Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
What would have been unthinkable only a few years ago is now the order of the day. Read more
How Companies Can Help Prevent Trafficking
Celine Suarez, Manager, Advisory Services
It’s estimated that 80 percent of global trafficking victims are women, and the vast majority are ensnared in sexual exploitation through the promise of legitimate jobs, marriage, “a way out,” or the lure of love from a male figure. Women and girls often become trapped in their situations through the threat (or reality) of violence, physical bondage, psychological control, and drug addiction. Around the world, poverty and illiteracy are some of the most common factors among female victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Read more
VIDEO: How the Tech Sector Should Address Human Rights
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Last month, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved new Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As a result, more clarity exists today than ever before on governments' duty to protect human rights and business' responsibility to respect human rights. Read more
Four Priorities for the Tech Sector in Applying the New UN Guiding Principles
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Last month, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved new Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights—a major milestone in the history of business and human rights. More clarity exists today than ever before on governments’ duty to protect human rights and thebusiness responsibility to respect human rights. Read more
Why Solar Should Care About Sustainability
Ryan Schuchard, Manager, Climate and Energy
Solar power is a poster child of sustainability, at least from the standpoint of energy users. It provides a clean alternative to GHG-emitting fossil fuels and runs indefinitely on free energy from the sun. What more, then, is there to the sustainability of solar energy? Read more
Staff Spotlight: Celine Suarez
Celine Suarez, Manager, Advisory Services
Our staff spotlight on Celine Suarez. Read more
A Quick Guide to the HERproject Toolbuilder
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
Recently, I traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia, to unveil BSR’s HERproject Toolbuilder, a web-based application that helps global health educators create culturally relevant training tools for factory- and farm-based health education in developing countries. The Toolbuilder includes a collection of more than 200 images on seven different health topics. Read more
UN Human Rights Council Endorses Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
Today marks a significant milestone for human rights: The UN Human Rights Council has endorsed the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights proposed by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. We want to congratulate Professor Ruggie and his team on this significant accomplishment. Read more
Staff Spotlight: Vijay Kanal
Vijay Kanal, Director, Information and Communications Technology Practice, Advisory Services
As part of a new series of BSR staff spotlights, our Information and Communication Technology Director Vijay Kanal offers his insights on the greatest opportunities and challenges for the industry. Read more
How the Next Generation Views Business and Human Rights
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
One of the benefits of teaching is the opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas and share experiences between the worlds of CSR practice and academia. When it comes to business and human rights, the need for this exchange seems particularly great. Read more
Embedding the Millennium Development Goals into Business Strategy: the World’s Women Can Help
Racheal Yeager, Manager, HERproject
During the CERES conference earlier this month, Levi Strauss CEO John Anderson made an important announcement: Levi Strauss will begin to require their suppliers to go beyond compliance and support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through workplace policies and programs and community outreach. Using the MDGs as a measurement for impact, Anderson said, will help apparel companies and apparel manufacturing businesses create positive benefits for local communities—such as improved health and nutrition, or access to bank accounts and financial literacy. Support for local communities and economic growth can lead to industry stability and ensure a sustainable supply of quality products. Plus, it’s the right thing to do. Read more
A Letter from San Francisco
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Seven years ago today, I boarded a Virgin Airways flight from London Heathrow to San Francisco armed with a one-way ticket, a quaint English accent, and all the unbounded optimism that accompanies a promising new stage of life. I was headed west to work for BSR, tasked with engaging the world’s largest technology companies in their efforts to become more sustainable. I’d never been to the United States before, but from all I’d read about San Francisco, I’d clearly hit the jackpot. Fast forward seven years and I’m moving to a new, equally engaging role at BSR, handing over my portfolio of work to Vijay Kanal, BSR’s new director of our Information and Communications Technology (ICT) practice. In light of this transition, I’ve reflected on how the ICT industry’s approach to sustainability has shifted over the past several years. Here I offer what I believe to be the three most significant developments that I’ve had the privilege to witness, and the corresponding areas where significant improvement is required. Read more
Jugaad Solutions for Sustainable Design
Virginia Terry, Director, Advisory Services
Jugaad is a Hindi term that means clever and resourceful. It describes a way of getting a job done by using easy-to-find materials, typically in collaboration with others. In Western terms, jugaad could be a kind of crowd-sourced innovation that makes efficient use of scarce resources or reused materials to help improve living conditions. Read more
Technology, Collaboration, and Human Rights: A Slightly Unfair (but Somewhat Useful) Comparison
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
How can companies effectively engage with stakeholders? That was the theme of a recent panel I participated in at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s “Sustainable Corporation” conference. Read more
What Conflict Minerals Regulation Means on the Ground
Amaya Gorostiaga, Manager, Advisory Services
I recently returned from a trip to Kigali, Rwanda, where I attended a regional conference on mineral certification—an effort to create responsible supply chains for “conflict minerals” mined from the African Great Lakes Region. Through the discussions, I learned where the region stands on promoting transparency and good governance in the artisanal and small-scale mining sectors, and the implications that recent legislative efforts would have on companies operating in, or sourcing from, the region. Read more
Debating the Future of Sustainability at the IFC
Julia Nelson, Manager, Advisory Services
This week marks the close of the third and final public consultation period for the review of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Sustainability Framework. The policies, standards, and guidance notes in the Framework set expectations on social and environmental performance for the financial institutions and companies who receive funds from the IFC (the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group). Read more
Migration in the Middle East: The Case of Oman
Guy Morgan, Director, Advisory Services
Before leading a workshop on migrant worker issues for the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Muscat last weekend, I sat down with Beate Andrees from the ILO Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labor (which sponsored the event) to consider, “What would success look like?” In a country whose labor force is largely composed of semi- and unskilled expatriate workers (around 80 percent of whom hail from India), we concluded that just having a workshop that got business representatives in the sultanate to engage in a discussion—any discussion—about this topic would be a major achievement. Read more
Conflict Minerals Regulations and Round Two of Multi-Stakeholder Responses
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
In advance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deadline for comments on proposed conflict minerals reporting rules, a multi-stakeholder group facilitated by the Responsible Sourcing Network has developed a set of comments on the SEC's draft regulations. The comments encourage greater clarity and specificity in certain parts of the regulations, and more importantly, highlight the need to support the continued sourcing of verifiably conflict-free minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding region. Read more
Egypt and the Realization of Human Rights in the Digital Age
Aron Cramer, President and CEO; Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
The recent developments in Egypt have provided increasing hope for all of us who believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The events have also provided ample new material for the “cyber-optimists” versus “cyber-skeptics” debate. Read more
Egypt and the Complicated Ethics of the Telecommunications Industry
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Like many people, I’ve been watching the scenes of democratic protests in Egypt unfold with a mixture of awe and fascination, fear and hope. I’ve also been reflecting on the implications of these events for the relationship between business and human rights. Read more
Taking Worker Rights to Scale—So What If There Isn’t a Business Case?
I just returned from Singapore, where (thanks to the generous support of the Levi Strauss Foundation) we convened a leading group of worker rights training organizations from around the world to collaborate on ways to scale and deepen the impact of their daunting and difficult in-factory work. Read more
Conflict Minerals Reporting Regulations: Who is Covered?
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released draft conflict minerals reporting rulesin December 2010 that have significant implications for a range of corporate sustainability issues—from supply chain monitoring and transparency to integrated reporting and responsible investing. In the short term, however, many people are simply focused on understanding and commenting on these rules, which are open for comment until the end of January 2011. Read more
WikiLeaks, Human Rights, and Business
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
As if the political fallout from the recent disclosure of U.S. diplomatic cables was not reason enough to follow this story closely, the WikiLeaks saga has now squarely landed in the middle of one of the most pressing business and human rights debates of our time: the responsibility of business to respect the rights to free expression and privacy. Read more
How Business Can Link Migration and Development
Guy Morgan, Director, Advisory Services
The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) took place last week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Chad Bolick and I were "expert observers" (as opposed to “delegates”), representing BSR at the GFMD Civil Society Days (CSDs)—the two and half days set aside for representatives from civil society organizations (academics, NGOs, development institutions, non-profits, and the odd company) to discuss the challenges of migration and its impact on development outcomes. The CSDs preceded the GFMD Government Days (GDs) which took up the rest of the week. Read more
Safeguarding the Movement of Migrant Workers
Chris Nolan, Manager, Advisory Services; Guy Morgan, Director, Advisory Services
International labor migration is a burgeoning byproduct of globalization, with more than 214 million migrant workers worldwide. As emerging economies continue to grow--despite the global downturn--an increasing percentage of these workers are moving between developing countries and, in many cases, having their fundamental rights undermined during the recruitment and employment process. Read more
California Transparency in Supply Chains Act Is Now Law
Diane Osgood, Ph.D.
California once again blazes a new trail and sets an example for the United States and other nations to follow. This week California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new law that requires retail sellers and manufacturers doing business in California to publicly disclose on their websites the policies and efforts in place to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains. Read more
Streamlining the Millennium Development Goals for More Impact
Aron Cramer, President and CEO
In New York last week, government, civil society, and business leaders converged to assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and raise additional funds at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in order to meet them. Despite a still sluggish economy, CGI managed to generate an impressive US$2.5 billion in pledges from its participants. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon added to this with a pledge of US$40 billion over the next five years to catapult progress toward the 2015 finish line, particularly targeting aid for women and girls. Great work, Bill! Read more
The Great CSR Debate 2010
Aron Cramer, President and CEO
I just finished participating in a debate over CSR, prompted by the (in)famous Wall Street Journal piece by University of Michigan business school professor Aneel Karnani, “The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility.” Read more
Protecting Human Rights in a Networked Age
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Recent restrictions announced by the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on the use of BlackBerry services—citing various national security concerns—have shed light on challenging ethical questions that are growing in importance for major global companies across the whole information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Read more
Water as a Human Right: Good for Business
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly declared that access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right. While not directly legally binding, this step will end the longstanding debate about the status of water as a human right. With almost 900 million people worldwide without access to clean water this long-overdue declaration reflects the importance of water as a sustainability challenge. It is also good news for business. Read more
Know What You Carry
Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
“Know what you carry” was the threatening message that met me many years ago as I crossed the border between two South East Asian countries. The accompanying noose on the sign left no doubts to the consequences of not knowing what I was (inadvertently or not) transporting. Read more
What Does the Global Network Initiative Tell Us About the Value of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives?
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a phone call that would change my life. It was November 2005, and a group of internet companies wanted BSR and Harvard’s Berkman Center to help explore the human rights to privacy and freedom of expression that were of growing risk in many markets around the world. Read more
Google and China: When Should Business Leave on Human Rights Grounds?
By Aron Cramer, President and CEO, and Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, ICT Practice, BSR
With Google’s decision today to shut down its Chinese-based search engine, google.cn, the company has won considerable praise from organizations concerned about its human rights record. This approval stands in stark contrast to the condemnation the company received when first entering the country in 2006. The Financial Times cartoonist Ingram Pinn captured these contrasting perspectives perfectly, depicting Google as the speech-suppressing “Great Firewall of China” in 2006, then casting the company as the lone protestor stopping the tanks in their tracks in 2010. Read more
New Opportunities for ICT and Human Rights
Cody Sisco, Manager, Advisory Services
Last week, BSR hosted a meeting for information and communications technology (ICT) companies in our Paris office to discuss the current state of human rights in the industry. Companies from the telecommunications, software, semiconductor, and industrial equipment sectors, among others, attended. It was fascinating to hear diverse companies from across the whole ICT value chain come together to discuss similar issues that they are facing related to human rights. Read more
Redefining the Business Case for Worker Rights
Scott Chang, Former Manager, BSR
When I worked in San Francisco, I helped several companies develop codes of conduct for worker rights to ensure social compliance in their supply chains. When I lived in Guangzhou, I worked extensively to convince factory managers to implement these codes. In both places, I was always asked: "What is the business case for doing this work?" Or, in bolder terms, "How much more money can I make if I design or comply with a code of conduct?" Read more
Demonstrating the ROI for Responsible Labor Practices
Nikki Weston
Return on investment. It’s the Holy Grail of corporate social responsibility. Everyone wants to make the business link between responsible labor and competitiveness, but how to do it? Actually coming up with indicators that can accurately measure things like the business return on an investment in responsible labor is not a simple matter. Read more
Human Rights: Now Is the Time
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
As I read the latest report (PDF) from John Ruggie, UN special representative on business and human rights, his chapter on the economic crisis and its relevance to the business and human rights debate immediately caught my eye. Read more
To Regulate or Not to Regulate: The Human Rights Debate
Diane Osgood, Ph.D.
Are voluntary principles and enforceable mechanisms on corporate accountability for human rights contradictory or complementary? I spoke on a panel last week on this very question as part of the two day semi-annual meeting of the International Human Rights Funders Groups. Read more
BSR Conference Session Summaries
I’m From Headquarters and I Am Here to Help: Integrating Human Rights at the Operational Level
BSR Conference 2011
Read moreBSR Insight Articles
BSR’s New Human Rights Working Group to Address Shared Industry Challenges
Peter Nestor, Associate, Advisory Services
At the launch of BSR’s new Human Rights Working Group in Washington, D.C., last week, 20 companies from seven industries and five countries discussed a new multisector approach to addressing human rights impacts. Read more
Taking Ethics to the Cloud
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services ; Ryan Schuchard, Manager, Climate and Energy
Just a decade ago, it would have been hard for all but the most tech-savvy to imagine the extent of cloud computing today. A complex system of data centers worldwide that store, process, and deliver information on demand over the internet, the cloud provides users with resources, applications, and information that they previously would have stored locally. The cloud—what some are calling “the factory of the 21st century”—is run by a network of IT service companies, internet firms, and telecommunications services providers, and it offers services to all of us: from banks and retailers to individuals like you and me. It is both real—requiring traditional inputs such as electricity—and virtual. Read more
Challenges of Applying the UN Guiding Principles
At the CSR and Leadership Produrable conference in Paris last week, BSR’s Europe Director Farid Baddache facilitated a discussion on how to apply the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Read more
Europe’s CSR Public Policies on the Rise
CSR policies in Europe are growing, according to the second working paper to come out of the Impact Project, a multistakeholder initiative that aims to measure the impacts of CSR in Europe. Read more
What’s Next for Business and Human Rights
By Christine Bader, Human Rights Advisor, BSR
At a recent workshop I convened at Duke University’s Kenan Institute for Ethics (where I’m a non-resident senior fellow), experts from the UN Working Group on business and human rights, corporations, NGOs, investors, and academia discussed what lies ahead for business: Read more
U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Corporate Liability and Human Rights
Peter Nestor, Associate, Advisory Services
The U.S. Supreme Court last week heard oral arguments in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Shell, a case involving the question of corporate liability for human rights abuses. Justices focused on whether international law requires global companies to be held liable in U.S. courts. A decision is expected in June. Read more
CSR in Saudi Arabia: Q&A With BSR Partner Nailah Attar
Cammie Erickson, Associate, Partnership Development
With support from a multiyear grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, BSR has worked to introduce CSR strategies to companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Through this initiative, we partnered with Nailah Attar, a Saudi Arabian businesswoman and activist, to expand the CSR offerings of her ECO Consulting business, which serves both Saudi and international companies operating in the country. Read more
Using Water-Risk Information for Greater Impact
Ryan Flaherty, Manager, Advisory Services
Business continuity depends on access to clean water, a resource that is in higher demand as scarcity increases, quality declines, and distribution remains unequal around the world. As more companies recognize their dependence on clean water, they are turning to different tools to assess risks and provide context for their direct operations and supply chains. Read more
Should Corporations Be Liable for Overseas Human Rights Abuses?
Peter Nestor, Associate, Advisory Services
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether corporations can be held liable for human rights abuses committed overseas in what will certainly be a landmark case. Read more
New California Regulation Spurs Greater Supply Chain Transparency
Sasha Radovich, Manager, Advisory Services
In a recent roundtable discussion that BSR and San Francisco’s Department on the Status of Women led on California’s new anti-human trafficking law—which requires retailers and manufacturers to disclose information related to labor and human trafficking in their supply chains—Verité Southeast Asia Founder and Director Maria Apostol said her organization found debt-bonded forced labor in every single one of its audits in Taiwan and Malaysia where foreign workers were present. Read more
Sustainability Predictions for 2012
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
The beginning of a new year is the time to look forward at the possible trends, influencers, and opportunities that will affect business. Here is a selection of sustainability-related predictions for 2012. Share your predictions with us at bsrinsight@bsr.org. Read more
Bad Bedfellows: Avoiding Complicity in Human Rights Violations
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights; Peter Nestor, Associate, Advisory Services
December 10 marked the 63rd annual Human Rights Day, and this year it provided a capstone to several important events in the human rights field. The year began with the Arab Spring and closed with the Occupy Movement—both invoking human rights principles as a basis for their platforms. In between, the United Nations endorsed John Ruggie’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed for the first time to consider corporate liability for human rights violations. Read more
Manifesto for the Corporate Idealist
By Christine Bader, Human Rights Advisor, BSR
Can big business do good in the world? Can corporations contribute to a healthier planet while still turning a profit? With each new headline about bad corporate behavior, it would be easy to assume that the answer to both questions is decidedly “no.” Read more
Human Rights Conference Highlights Opportunity for Leadership
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
At last month’s Silicon Valley Human Rights Conference—which brought together around 500 representatives from business, civil society, and the media—BSR facilitated a panel, based on our recent report, on how the tech sector can apply the new UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Read more
Implementing a Living Wage Program
Roger McElrath, Manager, Advisory Services
Note: This is the second in a two-part series examining living wage. Part one looked at what constitutes a living wage, who is responsible for ensuring that it is defined, and the role of the company in providing it. Read more
Reflections From the BSR Conference 2011: We Have the Will—and the Power—to Act
Kara Hurst, Vice President
In his opening address at the BSR Conference 2011, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore talked about the “functional insanity” of CEOs and CFOs who choose short-term gains over long-term sustainability. He referenced a study in which these leaders were asked what they would do if they were given a chance to make an investment that would increase their company’s profitability and sustainability—with the catch being that they would miss their quarterly targets. Eighty percent said they would not make the investment. Read more
Moving Beyond Traditional Notions of Human Rights in the ICT Sector
Last week, BSR facilitated a workshop with sustainability, procurement, and legal representatives from nine information and communications technology (ICT) companies—Alcatel-Lucent, Belgacom, BT, Deutsche Telekom, Nokia, SAP, ST Microelectronics, Telefonica, and Telia Sonera—on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights. Participants discussed how to conduct a human rights impact assessment, develop and integrate a human rights policy, and measure progress. Read more
Integrating Human Rights Into Business Operations
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
Integrating human rights considerations into all aspects of business is among the biggest challenges for companies implementing the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. To generate support for a human rights policy or management system at the operational or site level, companies should provide: Read more
Four Steps for Human Rights Management
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
Learn about the four steps BSR suggests for a successful human rights management system in line with the new UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. Also, get answers to some of the frequently asked questions from companies in implementing a human rights programs. Read more
Innovative Solutions to Improving Women and Children’s Health
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
A new UN report explores how to improve women and children’s health globally. The report details what’s needed for successful development programs, outlines critical health needs, and highlights 10 innovative business models (including BSR’s HERproject) for delivering health services and products. Read more
How Freedom of Association Supports Economic Development
The International Labour Organization’s new report outlines how freedom of association—the right to create and join organizations without fear of reprisal—supports sustainable economic development. The report explores the challenges to freedom of association; provides case studies on the positive effects it can have when governments, employers’ organizations, and trade unions work together; and shares how these actors can promote respect for freedom of association. Read more
New BSR Tool Helps Business Identify Strategic Social Investments
Alison Colwell, Manager, Advisory Services
BSR’s new tool helps companies make strategic social investments in communities where they operate, which is a critical aspect of building sustainable local economies. Strategic social investments allow companies to maximize the impact of their resource allocations, increase the long-term sustainability of their efforts, develop productive and mutually beneficial relationships with local stakeholders, and mitigate operational disruptions by strengthening their social license to operate. Read more
The Global Food Crisis
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
According to Oxfam International, which recently published an interactive map of the global food crisis, food prices—caused by climate change and resulting crop failures, rising oil costs, and short-sighted biofuel strategies—have lingered at an all-time high since late 2010. Read more
The 4:1 ROI for Women’s Health Initiatives
Racheal Yeager, Manager, HERproject
BSR’s factory-based women’s health education program has the potential to deliver a US$4 return for every dollar invested in the project, according to a new study. Read more
Investing in Factory Workers’ Mental Health and Well-Being
Jessica Davis Pluess, Manager, Advisory Services
In response to the reported rise of suicides among Chinese factory workers, leading companies are investing in employee-assistance programs (EAPs)—including mental health education, diagnostic services, and counseling—to help workers and their families balance work- and personal-life demands, while also improving productivity. While common in North America, EAPs are emerging as important tools for addressing the root causes of mental health issues among workers in China. Read more
Improving Migrant Worker Recruitment in Indonesia
Chris Nolan, Manager, Advisory Services
BSR’s Migration Linkages initiative released a new report covering the experiences of migrant workers who leave Indonesia for Malaysia. The report also includes recommendations for improving Indonesia’s recruitment system. Read more
BSR, Intel Gather Experts to Spur Social Innovation in China
At a Beijing meeting, BSR and Intel brought together 15 government, academic, nonprofit, and business experts to discuss how things like infrastructure, institutions, incentives, inspiration, integration, interaction, and investments can spark innovative solutions to address China’s growing social and environmental challenges. Experts also discussed how companies could leverage their expertise, technology, talent, and capital to transform their traditional approaches to social responsibility to make a greater impact. Read more
Opportunities for Technology in Sustainability: In Conversation With BSR’s New ICT Practice Director
Eva Dienel, Communications Manager; Vijay Kanal, Director, Information and Communications Technology Practice, Advisory Services
Vijay Kanal first began working on sustainability issues in the technology sector several years ago when a client retained his consulting firm to identify market opportunities for sustainable design software. Intrigued by this assignment, Kanal—who began his career in the industry as an electrical engineer, and later held senior roles in marketing, partnership development, and product introductions at Sun Microsystems—made a personal investment in sustainability by educating himself on the opportunities for the ICT industry. Several engagements followed in developing sustainability strategies and identifying best practices for clients. Read more
Transforming the Global Food System
SustainAbility’s “Appetite for Change” explores the transformation needed for a sustainable global food system that is "reliable, resilient, and transparent; produces food within ecological limits; empowers food producers; and ensures accessible, nutritious food for all." While a variety of stakeholders is required for large-scale, systemic change, the report calls on the private sector to become more engaged in the debate and embrace new market opportunities to make this transformation possible. Read more
Conflict Minerals Due Diligence: What Can Companies Expect?
Sasha Radovich, Manager, Advisory Services
In February, Apple was the first company to disclose how many of its suppliers use “conflict minerals,” or tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold that may be sourced from and contribute to armed conflict in the regions around the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Apple also reported how many smelters originally processed the minerals, indicating its ability to trace them in its supply chain. Apple, along with other companies, including HP, Dell, and Intel, have announced strict policies to eliminate minerals that are not certified as “conflict free” from their supply chains. Read more
Experts Urge Companies to Consider Full Suite of Human Rights
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
During last week’s Sustainability Matters webinar, BSR Human Rights Director Faris Natour and Christine Bader, Advisor to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, discussed how companies can align their human rights processes and management systems with the new Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Read more
Social Impact Assessments Help Companies Manage Risks and Opportunities
Alison Colwell, Manager, Advisory Services
With growing stakeholder expectations and increasingly complex operating environments, leading companies recognize the need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding and managing project risks and opportunities that moves beyond regulatory requirements. Social impact assessments (SIA)—the process of analyzing, monitoring, and managing social issues such as resettlement and access to water—can help companies reduce risks, enhance operational decision-making, improve stakeholder relations, maximize community benefits, and secure a company’s license to operate. Read more
‘Lack of Understanding’ Tops List of Business Hurdles to Human Rights
Although John Ruggie’s mandate ends this month with the UN Human Rights Council’s endorsement of his Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, most companies are still in the nascent stage of embedding human rights throughout their operations. According to an Institute for Human Rights and Business survey of 97 people—including directors of global communications and CEOs from all sectors—the greatest hurdle (56 percent of responses) for companies in doing so is a “lack of understanding among key managers.” Read more
The UN Guiding Principles: What’s Next for Business and Human Rights
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
Last week, the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights proposed by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. The principles provide guidance for implementing the UN "Protect, Respect, Remedy" Framework, which rests on three pillars: Read more
Partnership Innovation: It Takes a Supply Chain to Improve Women’s Health
Over the past six weeks, I have traveled from meeting to meeting in Washington, D.C., Bangkok, and Geneva to develop opportunities for BSR to partner with funders and others to provide resources to tackle challenges as diverse and broad as childhood nutrition, climate change adaptation, and energy efficiency. These discussions have gotten me thinking about the importance of innovative partnerships in addressing big challenges, and how business can be more effective in its work with government, civil society, and even private funders. Read more
How Companies Can Collaborate to Improve Factory Labor Issues
Adam Lane, Manager, Advisory Services
In the Beijing Development Area (BDA), an economic zone with a high concentration of factory workers, companies are facing severe challenges such as recruiting and retaining workers—issues that prevail in similar manufacturing regions across China. Read more
Maximizing Benefits From Supply Chain Sustainability
Charlotte Bancilhon, Associate, Advisory Services
BSR's new issue brief presents the business case for improving social and environmental performance throughout companies’ supply chains. Through practical case studies, this brief illustrates that by helping suppliers improve their sustainability performance and by investing in opportunities such as energy management or workplace improvements, companies can achieve real benefits such as enhanced supply chain security and reduced costs. Read more
Building Effective Local Content Strategies
Jessica Davis Pluess, Manager, Advisory Services
BSR's new report highlights some of the challenges and opportunities extractives companies face in building local content programs that drive commercial value and deliver sustainable local development benefits in countries where they operate. Read more
Conducting Site-Level Human Rights Impact Assessments
Alejandra Martin, Manager, Advisory Services
Although more than 270 companies have human rights policy statements in place, few have implemented the policies, and even fewer have conducted human rights impact assessments at the site level. These assessments are particularly relevant for companies operating in remote areas where local governments and civil society have limited experience interacting with the private sector. Read more
Operating Locally: BSR’s Three-Step Approach to Delivering Lasting Value
Michael Oxman, Director, Advisory Services
Leading energy and extractive companies continue to develop new approaches to ensuring benefits to local communities and other key stakeholders from large capital projects and ongoing operations. These benefits include economic opportunities such as employment and the procurement of goods and services from local suppliers as well as benefits from social investments in education, health, and other community areas of need. Read more
The Case (Book) for Responsible Labor
Terry Nelidov, Manager, Advisory Services
BSR's new "Stories From the Field" provides a reader-friendly collection of 14 case studies from our DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project in Central America and the Dominican Republic, which BSR created and led to make the business case for responsible labor in the region. Read more
Stories From the Field
Interview with Richard Feinberg, Professor, University of California, San Diego, by Terry Nelidov, Manager, Advisory Services, BSR
Terry Nelidov, project manager of BSR's DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project, recently talked with University of California, San Diego Professor Richard Feinberg, a senior advisor to the project, about his insights gained from developing the case studies for it in BSR’s new compendium “Stories From the Field.” In excerpts below from the conversation, Professor Feinberg highlights both overall learnings from the three-year project and practical tools that companies anywhere in the world can apply to their labor and competitiveness strategies. Read more
Practical Applications of the UN Business and Human Rights Framework on the Rise
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
John Ruggie, the UN special representative for business and human rights, issued a report listing practical applications of the UN "Protect, Respect, and Remedy" Framework. The framework, which has emerged as the de-facto standard for business and human rights, has already been applied by numerous governments, companies, investors, multilateral institutions, NGOs, national human rights institutions, academia, and the United Nations. Read more
New Cell Phone Ratings Increase Transparency for Consumers
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
GoodGuide, which provides information on the social, environmental, and health impacts of a variety of consumer products, recently launched its 2011 rankings of cell phones. The company rated 576 cell phones using criteria including environmental and social performance at the product and company levels. These rankings are also available via a mobile application, which allows consumers to browse, search, or scan barcodes to see detailed information for more than 70,000 products and companies. Read more
Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Today, BSR published "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age," a new report describing the freedom of expression and privacy risks faced by information and communications technology (ICT) companies, and how these risks can be more effectively mitigated by the industry. Read more
Will Old Europe Become the New World of Sustainability in 2011?
Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen, Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, and Africa
European companies, government officials, and civil society representatives have tended to scoff at their American cousins’ approach to sustainability, and also at the perceived fundamental disregard for the environment and human rights in BRIC countries. But as we make our way into 2011, I sense a shift in Europe toward a more somber mood, similar to the sobriety that comes to a soccer team the day after an unexpected defeat by a mignon competitor: heads down, feet dragging, and a realization that something different has to be done. Read more
Promoting Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: A Strategic Role for Business
Chhavi Ghuliani, Manager, Advisory Services
Recently, BSR visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of a U.S. State Department project to promote CSR and human rights in the region. While there, BSR led: Read more
BSR Comments on Draft Human Rights Principles
This week, BSR submitted a commentary on the draft "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the United Nations 'Protect, Respect, and Remedy' Framework" proposed by Professor John Ruggie, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General for Human Rights and Business. Read more
What to Look for in 2011
Aron Cramer, President and CEO
Over the past couple of years, relentless focus on the basic vitality of the world’s economy has distracted attention from important underlying trends. As we go into 2011, the market meltdowns of 2008 are receding from view. This means that structural changes in the world are—thankfully—again capturing the world’s attention. These longer-term developments are again shaping the business environment—and pointing to an even greater focus on sustainability as one of the defining characteristics of business success. Here are five key trends that will shape our world in 2011. Read more
ESG Integration in Emerging Markets
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
Eurosif's "Emerging Markets Report</a>" explores the integration of ESG factors into business operations and reporting by companies in emerging markets, which is on the rise but still lower than in developed markets Read more
Draft Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN ‘Protect, Respect, and Remedy’ Framework
Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Last month, UN Special Representative for Business and Human Rights John Ruggie published a draft of "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN 'Protect, Respect, and Remedy' Framework." This framework is quickly emerging as the global standard for managing corporate human rights impacts. Read more
Universal Access to HIV Services: A Promise Yet to Be Realized
Mark Little, Director, Health Care, Advisory Services
More than 20 years after the first World AIDS Day on December 1, 1988, the theme for this year’s observance—“Universal Access and Human Rights”—is a sobering reminder of two challenges that characterize the fight against this epidemic. First, while the global AIDS epidemic has slowed, with UNAIDS reporting a 20 percent decrease in new HIV infections over the past decade, HIV continues to spread in developed and developing countries at rates that outpace treatment by more than 2:1. Second, the HIV epidemic has illuminated and continues to illuminate the inequities in our societies that result from a failure to fully realize human rights. Read more
Coalition Provides U.S. SEC With Recommendations on Conflict Minerals
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
A group of NGOs, investors, and companies—facilitated by BSR and led by AMD, the Enough Project, and As You Sow—has developed recommendations to guide the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) pending rulemaking on conflict minerals (defined as tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This rulemaking, mandated by the U.S. financial reform legislation passed in July, will require U.S.-listed companies to report if their products contain conflict minerals, which are so named because of the role of armed groups in mining and taxing their trade. Read more
Global Government Affairs: The Importance of Strengthening Civil Society
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
At BSR’s roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. last week, government affairs and CSR executives from business, along with representatives from civil society and government, discussed the convergence of the CSR and global government affairs agendas, the need for sustainability to be part of the DNA of a company, and the challenges of operating in countries where rule of law is compromised. Read more
Doing Business With China’s New Generation of Workers
Wei Dong Zhou, Vice President, Broad Group
In December 2009, Time magazine unveiled its short list for Person of the Year. Though the Chinese worker was eventually a runner up to Ben Bernanke, the second-place nomination belies huge changes sweeping across China, as “new generation” workers aspire to more than just higher wages and better working conditions. As we learn from a discussion with BSR’s China Director, these workers represent a significant shift taking place that has implications for global companies, consumers, and 800 million workers in a country that no longer wants to be “the sweatshop of the world.” Read more
Actress and Activist Challenges Us to ‘Engage When the Going Gets Rough’
The BSR Conference 2010 plenary and I³ sessions featured global experts who shared ideas on how to integrate innovation into strategy and core business. Read more
Demonstration Projects Link Responsible Labor and Competitiveness
Jessica Hyman, Associate, Operations
BSR's DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness project released 14 case studies showcasing the link between responsible labor and competitiveness from successful projects throughout Central America. The studies document the successes and challenges of the projects and provide practical solutions for responsible labor practices. Read more
New Uncertainty About Corporate Liability for Human Rights
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
In a case involving allegations of complicity in the executions of environmental protesters against a Shell subsidiary in Nigeria, a U.S. appeals court ruled that the U.S. Alien Tort Statute (ATS)—which allows foreigners to seek damages in the United States for human rights violations committed abroad—should not apply to companies. Dozens of cases have been filed against corporations under the law, and this ruling contradicts an earlier decision by another appeals court that had accepted the possibility of corporate liability. Given this new uncertainty, it’s possible that this case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more
The Path to ‘Conflict-Free’: Risk Management or Responsibility?
Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services
With recent headlines about the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) broadcasting strong claims like “Break the Link Between Laptops and War” and “Death by Gadget,” it’s easy to get the impression that the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is solely responsible for the violence in that country. These articles generally focus on the association between “conflict minerals” (tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold) used in ICT supply chains and the ongoing violence in the eastern DRC that has contributed to the deaths of more than five million people during the past 15 years. Read more
Building a Baseline on Worker Empowerment Programs
Worker empowerment efforts—any activity helping workers take a stronger role in asserting and protecting their own rights—are critical to building strong management-worker relationships, increasing worker productivity, and preventing work stoppages in supply chains. Read more
New Tools Help Companies Improve Conditions for International Migrant Workers
Chris Nolan, Manager, Advisory Services
BSR's Migration Linkages initiative just released two tools to help business protect migrant worker rights and manage related risks. Read more
Identifying Human-Trafficking Risks in Supply Chains
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
The U.S. Department of State's "2010 Trafficking in Persons Report" provides in-depth assessments of and recommendations for 177 countries, with the aim to eliminate modern slavery. The report also outlines key trends, the challenges and successes in identifying and protecting victims, and the need for governments to incorporate anti-trafficking policies in response to natural disasters. Read more
Effective Informed Consent Policies for Indigenous Peoples
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
According to a new report commissioned by the Canadian oil and gas company Talisman, the long-term benefits of securing the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples potentially impacted by operations outweigh challenges such as identifying relevant indigenous peoples, defining an appropriate negotiation process, and working inside countries with unsupportive governments. Read more
How Sustainability Can Transform the Travel and Tourism Sector
Kara Hurst, Vice President
In the past, social responsibility in the travel and tourism sector was equated with “ecotourism.” However, companies such as Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Starwood are now implementing innovative solutions that also reduce the environmental impact of their operations, save money, and benefit local economic development. Read more
Update on the UN ‘Protect, Respect, and Remedy’ Framework
Nikki Weston
UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights John Ruggie's latest report highlights several ways that governments can prevent human rights abuses involving business. One recommendation in particular focuses on the role of government in fostering a company culture that respects human rights. Three of his suggested policy tools include: Read more
Starting a Responsible Labor Initiative: Lessons From the DR-CAFTA
Read part one of our series on responsible labor here. Read more
Jordanian Government Mandates the Better Work Program
Alison Colwell, Manager, Advisory Services
At the recent Better Work Jordan Buyers' Forum, Labor Minister Ibrahim Amosh announced that Jordan's exporting apparel factories will be required to use Better Work's assessments on labor standards. His aim is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the country’s garment sector by reducing duplicative audits so factories can focus their resources on continuous improvement. Read more
2010 Proxy Preview
Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services
As You Sow's "2010 Proxy Preview" categorizes the hundreds of proxies filed in the United States on social and governance issues, explores important issues, identifies the key investors and organizations filing them, and provides a list of companies and upcoming proxy votes. Read more
Why Good Labor Practices Are Good for Business: Lessons From BSR’s DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiven
Alison Colwell, Manager, Advisory Services; Terry Nelidov, Manager, Advisory Services
Read part two of our series on responsible labor here. Read more
Peer-Education Model Raises Tuberculosis Awareness in China
In 1990, tuberculosis accounted for half of all deaths from infectious diseases in China. From 2001 to 2009, the country documented and treated more than 8 million cases. TB has serious business impacts including work flow disruption, productivity decline, and costs related to treatment and the replacement of workers. To address this pandemic, BSR piloted an innovative toolkit, created by the World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative and Lilly's Multi-Drug Resistant TB Partnership, in three of our member companies' contract facilities and promoted the toolkit to an additional 15 suppliers. Read more
Overcoming the Myths of Government Partnerships
Racheal Yeager, Manager, HERproject
Partnerships between companies and government, commonly known as public-private partnerships, are nothing new for business. Over the last two years, however, BSR has seen a significant uptick in interest from companies in partnering with governments. This is likely due to two main factors: the growth in the role of national governments in addressing sustainability challenges, and the increasing opportunities for companies in emerging markets. Read more
On the Horizon: BSR’s Research & Innovation Agenda 2010
Interview with Faris Natour, Director, Research & Innovation, by Eva Dienel, Manager, Communications
Each year, BSR’s Research & Innovation department produces independent, applied sustainability research to help BSR members stay ahead of the curve and to advance corporate responsibility as a whole. The team’s aim is to offer practical solutions that will address the key sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow, with insights informed by BSR’s consulting work, interviews with business leaders, and our active participation in global initiatives that address sustainability issues for the private sector. Read more
International Sporting Events Shine Light on Human Rights
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
Each year, global sporting events draw media attention to human rights challenges surrounding the events, and coverage of these issues is already in full swing for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Read more
Malaysia Reconsiders Right-to-Work Policy for Refugees
In an attempt to mitigate labor shortages and improve its image as a rights-respecting nation, Malaysia—an important country to global supply chains—is considering granting refugees the right to work, which would allow companies operating in the country to directly recruit migrant workers living in Malaysia. This could help companies reduce their reliance on an international recruitment process that can be risky and expensive for both business and workers. The government's move is supported by some Malaysian civil society organizations and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress. Read more
Responses to Google’s Move in China
Following Google's decision last month to reconsider its presence in China due to concerns about human rights infringements related to security, privacy, and free expression, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre collected a selection of commentaries and articles on the subject from NGOs, the media, and others. Below is a sample of those responses. Read more
Should You Stay or Should You Go? What’s the ‘Right’ Decision on Entering or Leaving a Market?
Aron Cramer, President and CEO; Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services
Google’s recent announcement to reconsider its business in China has won considerable praise from organizations concerned about the country’s human rights record. This approval stands in stark contrast to the condemnation the company received when first entering the country in 2006. The Financial Times cartoonist Ingram Pinn captured these contrasting perspectives perfectly, depicting Google as the speech-suppressing “Great Firewall of China” in 2006, then casting the company as the lone protestor stopping the tanks in their tracks in 2010. Read more
Chinese Labor Disputes on the Rise
Although Chinese workers have benefited from increased labor rights protection in recent years, the number of labor disputes reported in China has nearly doubled since 2007. This trend is a result of clearer and more comprehensive legal frameworks for labor protection, greater worker awareness of labor laws, and a lack of corporate investments in formal grievance mechanisms. Read more
Working With Government on Responsible Labor
Ryan Flaherty, Manager, Advisory Services
Through BSR's DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project, we recently presented recommendations to the Salvadoran government on how the country can promote company and national competitiveness through improved working conditions. Our benchmarking of global public-policy practices revealed that more governments are incorporating sustainability incentives into their policies. Read more
New Online Forum for UN Business and Human Rights Mandate
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights John Ruggie has launched an online forum for companies and other stakeholders to provide input as Ruggie develops guiding principles to operationalize the UN "Protect, Respect, Remedy" framework. The framework is composed of three pillars: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and greater access to effective remedy for victims of corporate-related abuses. Read more
New Online Forum for UN Business and Human Rights Mandate
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights John Ruggie has launched an online forum for companies and other stakeholders to provide input as Ruggie develops guiding principles to operationalize the UN "Protect, Respect, Remedy" framework. The framework is composed of three pillars: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and greater access to effective remedy for victims of corporate-related abuses. Read more
A Visit to Saudi Arabia: Key Trends in CSR and Human Rights
On our recent trip to Saudi Arabia, we received a refresher lesson on globalization as soon as we stepped off the plane. In this conservative country steeped in Arab and Muslim history and tradition, all the big American and European retail chains are well represented, and you can neatly divide the young professionals into Blackberry and iPhone camps. One of our business meetings even began with a question about whether we had seen a recent edition of Oprah. More importantly, we found that another core element of globalization—corporate social responsibility (CSR) —is increasingly viewed as a key driver for global competitiveness of Saudi business. Read more
Mary Robinson Calls on Companies to Issue Human Rights Statements
By Nikki Weston
Now through the end of June 2010, Realizing Rights, a human rights organization headed by Mary Robinson—the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights—is encouraging major companies to adopt a formal human rights policy statement, which will be posted on the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre's website. Read more
New Guide to Human Rights Reporting
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
According to a new resource guide on corporate human rights reporting—developed by Realizing Rights, the UN Global Compact, and the Global Reporting Initiative—many businesses struggle with how to integrate human rights into their business practices and public reporting. In fact, most companies do not publicly disclose information on their human rights impacts. Read more
HERproject Update: Promoting Women’s Health in Pakistan
Last month, an appreciation ceremony in Karachi, Pakistan, celebrated the accomplishments of HERproject, a BSR initiative that raises female factory workers’ awareness of general and reproductive health issues. Read more
Global Forum Advances Protection for Migrant Workers
By Nicolette van Exel
During the Global Forum on Migration and Development—held in Athens, Greece, earlier this month—civil society, governments, and business came together to discuss a collaborative approach to informing government policy to protect global migrant workers. Read more
The State of Sustainable Business
For a snapshot on the state of sustainable business, take a look at our brief report from the BSR/GlobeScan survey of nearly 300 business leaders at the BSR Conference 2009. Highlights include: Read more
Another Year, Another Drought: Water Scarcity in China’s Manufacturing Zone
Reports that 50,000 people in southern China (and at least a million more in the western and central regions) are suffering from a severe drought underscores a perennial question about the impact of water shortages in the country: How can companies with supply chains and manufacturing in China reconcile the water needs of their business with competing demands from industry, agriculture, and local residents? Read more
Report Identifies Goods Produced with Child or Forced Labor
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
The U.S. Department of Labor's International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) identified 122 goods from 58 countries that are produced in violation of international labor standards regarding forced and child labor. Read more
A New Path for Worker Rights
Over the past 10 years, the Levi Strauss Foundation (LSF) has provided grants to further the rights and responsibilities of more than a million workers in more than 20 countries. Read more
Companies Plea for Democratic Resolution in Honduras
Ryan Flaherty, Manager, Advisory Services
In a good example of public policy engagement in support of human rights, four leading apparel brands and retailers sourcing from Honduras collaborated with the Maquila Solidarity Network to respond to recent political instability in that country. Below is an excerpt from their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that underscores the importance of using democratic processes rather than military action to resolve domestic disputes. Read more
ILO Experts Guide Companies on Best Labor Practices
Are workers in your supply chain free to organize? What can you do to prevent trafficking of migrant labor? These questions and more can be answered by the new International Labour Organization's (ILO) HelpDesk—a free and confidential service that can help your company align its operations with the ILO's socially responsible labor principles. Read more
Human Rights and Public Policy
Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights
The recently introduced Congo Conflict Minerals Act, a proposed U.S. law aimed at increasing transparency in the sourcing of minerals tied to civil war and used in many electronics, is the latest sign of renewed government interest in business and human rights. Human rights challenges for companies typically emerge when governments fail to fulfill their duty to protect their citizens’ rights, either willfully or for lack of resources. To help close these governance gaps, responsible public policy should be a key component of every company’s human rights strategy. BSR recommends that companies take the following steps: Read more
Events
BSR Conference 2011: Leadership Required
Leadership in business is changing fast. In today’s global, integrated, and transparent world, business is expected to do more than deliver shareholder returns. At its best, business is a creative force and an integral player in delivering prosperity for 9 billion people, applying game-changing technologies for social benefit, and radically reducing our use of natural resources. Learn more
Implementing the Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business in the ICT Industry
Meeting Purpose
In June 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council approved new “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ Framework”, proposed by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. This decision represents one of the most significant milestones so far on the issue of business and human rights. After six years of consultation, debate and discussion, more clarity exists today than ever before on the responsibilities that businesses hold to respect human rights.
Learn moreReports
Migrant Workers and Health—The Role of Business
Migrant worker health is increasingly important for companies following the UN‘s endorsement of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the identification of migrant workers as a group specifically requiring protection related to health. Business is expected to adopt or establish standards and procedures to support the protection of individuals belonging to specific groups, including migrant workers. Among these principles, Principle 121 states, ―with respect to the International Bill of Human Rights, additional standards for vulnerable groups, such as migrant workers and their families, should be considered to prevent adverse human rights impacts. Read more
Catalyzing Social Investment in China
In this paper, we analyze the various forces driving social investment in China. We define social investment as the contribution of resources by business, foundations, or nonprofits toward the creation of social, environmental, and economic development (also termed strategic philanthropy or community investment). As China rapidly changes, the expectations for, and implementation of, social investment programs are changing quickly as well. Read more
Good Practices for Complying with Licensors’ Social and Environmental Requirements
This guide serves as a starting point for licensee executives and professionals to understand how they can meet licensors’ requirements related to social and environmental compliance. It also provides guidance on how licensees can improve working conditions within their direct and contract manufacturing operations and supply chains. Read more
Applying the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the ICT Industry | Version 1.0
In June 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council approved new Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As a result, more clarity exists today than ever before on governments’ duty to protect human rights and the business responsibility to respect human rights. Read more
Step Up: Improving Recruitment of Migrant Workers in Indonesia
This report released by BSR’s Migration Linkages initiative examines the recruitment of migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia, highlighting key risks and opportunities for both workers and business. The research is part of the initiatives’ focus on identifying and promoting ethical recruitment practices among business and uncovered significant variability in the recruitment process—variability that can contribute to less-than-ideal outcomes for workers. The report also articulates some of the wholesale changes required of both government and business to address these issues and improve the recruitment system in Indonesia, laying the groundwork for Migration Linkages’ guidance for business on ethical recruitment to follow later in 2011. Read more
Women and Sustainability | Employing Women Responsibly: The Emerging Market Context
With post-secondary education and formal workforce participation rates approaching 50 percent, women employees may be just what multinational companies need to overcome labor shortages in emerging markets. At the same time, fair and equal formal-sector employment represents the most powerful contribution to gender equality that a company can provide. Read more
Stories From the Field
"Stories From the Field" provides a reader-friendly collection of 14 case studies from our DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project in Central America and the Dominican Republic, which BSR created and led to make the business case for responsible labor in the region. Read more
Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age
This report describes the freedom of expression and privacy risks faced by information and communications technology companies and how these risks can be more effectively mitigated by the industry. Read more
Submission to the Special Representative for Business and Human Rights on the Draft Guiding Principles
BSR submitted commentary on the draft "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the United Nations 'Protect, Respect, and Remedy' Framework" proposed by Professor John Ruggie, Special Representative to the UN Secretary General for Human Rights and Business. Read more
Conflict Minerals Reporting Regulations: Who is Covered?
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) draft conflict minerals reporting rules will have significant implications for a range of corporate sustainability issues. BSR has prepared this issue brief to help companies understand how they may be affected and whether they may have to respond. Read more
A Public Policy Framework for Advancing Responsible Labor and International Competitiveness: El Salvador
The purpose of this report is to assist El Salvador—its government, private sector, and civil society—to design a public policy framework, centered on positive incentives, to advance responsible labor practices in a manner that benefits private sector employees and also bolsters labor productivity and the international competitiveness of firms and, ultimately, the competitiveness and therefore the well-being of the entire nation Read more
Migrant Worker Management Toolkit: A Global Framework
This management tool for multinational companies and employers provides guidance on how to better manage migrant worker issues, from managing risks to better protecting migrant workers’ rights. Read more
Good Practice Guide: Global Migration
This report provides policy guidance on all key international labor migration areas for international companies, employers, and contractors. This collection of what BSR considers “good practice” is not an auditable standard and is not a substitute for company codes of conduct. This document will evolve as the dialogue on international labor migration evolves. Read more
Supply Chain Sustainability: A Practical Guide for Continuous Improvement
More and more companies are extending their commitment to responsible business practices to their value chains, from subsidiaries to suppliers. They do so not only because of the inherent social and environmental risks and the governance challenges the supply chain poses, but also because of the many rewards supply chain sustainability can deliver. Indeed, sustainable supply chain management can be a strong driver of value and success--for business as much as for society. Read more
Conflict Minerals and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
NGOs, governments, and businesses are increasingly focused on the issue of "conflict minerals," whose sourcing and trade support armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This report offers an overview of these mineral supply chains and the relevance for a range of industries, and highlights challenges and opportunities for companies to address conflict minerals in their supply chains through support of supply chain responsibility efforts, government engagement on the issue, and local capacity building in the Congo. Read more
Can Women Solve the World’s Woes? A Q&A with 'Half the Sky' authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn—authors of a new book about how to turn oppression into opportunity for women—talk with us about what they say is the key to economic progress: investing in women and girls. Read more
Moving the Needle: Protecting the Rights of Garment Factory Workers
Advancing workers' rights at a factory level requires more than implementing a supplier code of conduct. In this report--commissioned by the Levi Strauss Foundation--BSR presents stories, lessons learned, and best practices from innovative NGOs working inside garment factories to promote workers' rights and responsibilities. Read more
Moving the Needle: Protecting the Rights of Garment Factory Workers
Advancing workers' rights at a factory level requires more than implementing a supplier code of conduct Read more
Human Rights in a Wired World
Sixty years after the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the world finds itself in a very different place, where almost anyone, anywhere, has the potential to access an endless source of information and communicate directly with the rest of the world. Information and communications technology (ICT) has been one of the most powerful drivers of change in our global society and has greatly shaped how we protect and advance human rights today. Read more
International Labor Migration: The Responsible Role of Business
With 90 million people migrating globally for work every year, learn about the key migration trends that affect your company—and the solutions for improving working conditions along your supply chains. Contact us to learn more about this initiative or get involved in our working group. Read more
Women's General and Reproductive Health in Global Supply Chains
Women between the ages of 18–25 comprise the vast majority of workers making products for export from the developing world to the developed world. They often work in environments where access to information about reproductive health, as well as critical services, is lacking. Read more
Changing Labor Demograhic Trends and Their Implications for Responsible Business
Case Studies Report
Actionable Research on Sustainability
Our Research team tracks emerging trends and solutions central to building sustainable business. We aim to help business leaders stay ahead of the curve and shape future-oriented decisions on a wide range of challenges, from energy management, to sustainable consumption, to human rights. Learn more
IAMGOLD: Integrating Human Rights Management Throughout the Business
BSR’s internal team of human rights and extractives-industry experts worked with key IAMGOLD staff to scope a multilevel training on the full spectrum of human rights relevant to mining operations. BSR developed interactive presentations, as well as facilitators’ guides and reference materials, for two levels of human rights trainings to be incorporated into a formal program for company staff and contractors. Learn more
Sustainability Matters
Preparing for the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act
When the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act goes into effect on January 1, 2012, more than 3,000 retailers and manufacturers that do business in the state will be required to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern-day slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains. These efforts include disclosing cases where companies' suppliers are involved directly or indirectly in forced labor, bonded labor, migrant worker abuses, and human trafficking. Learn more
Protection and Prevention: 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report
The U.S. State Department's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report" is the most comprehensive report on government efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons. In addition to raising awareness of the current global state of human trafficking, the report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the U.S. government fights against forced labor, sexual exploitation, and modern-day slavery. Learn more
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: The Road Ahead
Last week, the UN Human Rights Council formally endorsed the "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights," presented by UN Special Representative for Business and Human Rights John Ruggie. Learn more
Stories From the Field: The Business Case for Better Working Conditions
To ensure responsible labor practices—in both farms and factories—business leaders should start by meeting basic government, buyer, and corporate standards. However, companies should also look for how investments in better working conditions can improve their bottom lines. Learn more
Conflict Minerals and Corporate Responsibility
Pending U.S. regulations will require companies to report on "conflict minerals" in their supply chains, with the goal of severing the link between trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold and the illegal funding of militants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the same time, NGOs are encouraging corporate action on this issue, companies are asking their suppliers for mineral-sourcing information, and industries are defining due diligence efforts. Learn more
Effective Remedies for Human Rights Impacts
Even though more and more companies are proactively managing their human rights impacts, even the best management systems cannot prevent all negative human rights impacts in a company's operating environment. When human rights are violated, it is critical that victims have effective access to remedies. Learn more
The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights
Listen to a conversation with Christine Bader, Advisor to John Ruggie and former Manager of Policy Development at BP p.l.c., on the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and the due diligence that companies should undertake. Learn more
Responsible Transitions: Managing Factory and Site Closures in the Economic Crisis
In this webinar, learn strategies and solutions to manage factory or site transitions in a responsible way and to assist communities that are most impacted. Learn more
BSR Review
Information and Communications Technology
The information and communications technology (ICT) industry is in a unique position to advance the sustainability agenda. With an annual spend of around US$2 trillion and a growth rate faster than other industries, the ICT sector is becoming a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and e-waste. It has also contributed to lesser-known negative social impacts such as poor working conditions in some factories, slavery, child labor, and other human rights abuses. View email publication
Women and Sustainability
In response to a question about Saudi Arabia's economic competitiveness in 2007, Bill Gates famously announced to the gender-segregated audience: "If you're not fully utilizing half the talent in the country, you're not going to get too close to the top." View email publication
Sustainability in the Chinese Context
With China's incredible growth, it will soon become the world's second-largest economy. However, the country strives for more than just economic prosperity—sustainable development is a top priority for the country, as evidenced by the latest 12th Five-Year Development Plan. View email publication
Human Rights
Welcome to the third edition of the BSR Review, our bi-monthly update on issues central to sustainable business. This edition features a collection of BSR’s recent work on human rights—one of the most pressing and challenging issues for business today. View email publication
Other Publications & Events Tagged, Human Rights
- Blog [ 49 ]
- BSR Conference Session Summaries [ 1 ]
- BSR Insight Articles [ 92 ]
- BSR Review [ 4 ]
- Case Studies [ 1 ]
- Events [ 2 ]
- Research Reports [ 22 ]
- Sustainable Investment in China Article [ 0 ]
- Sustainability Matters [ 8 ]
BSR member-only content; valid login required.