Initiative overview
The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework establish a global framework for preventing and addressing business-related human rights impacts. Endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011, the framework is built around three pillars: the State duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and access to effective remedy for affected individuals and communities. It applies to all States and all business enterprises regardless of size, sector or location.
The principles call on States to prevent, investigate and redress human rights abuses through policies, legislation, regulation and oversight, while encouraging businesses to adopt human rights commitments and conduct human rights due diligence. Businesses are expected to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse human rights impacts linked to their operations, products, services and business relationships.
The framework also emphasises accountability and remedy. States should ensure access to effective judicial and non-judicial grievance mechanisms, while businesses should establish or participate in operational-level grievance mechanisms for affected stakeholders. The principles set out effectiveness criteria for such mechanisms, including legitimacy, accessibility, predictability, equity, transparency and rights compatibility. Overall, the framework seeks to strengthen respect for human rights in business activities and improve outcomes for affected individuals and communities.
