Businesses must respect human rights. We help our clients ensure they invest in companies and maintain operations and supply chains that have a positive impact on people.
BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS
More than ever, consumers are concerned with how food is grown, goods are sourced and manufactured, and buildings and infrastructure are constructed. They increasingly demand businesses to respect rights. So too do regulators: in recent years governments throughout the world have introduced laws in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These require public reporting on human rights risks in supply chains and how businesses are addressing these concerns, with those who fail to act facing regulatory action and reputational damage.
Our team is passionate about helping clients understand how they impact human rights across their operations and value chain. We equip businesses with the tools and know-how to mitigate human rights risks, ranging from labour rights in construction in the UAE to child exploitation in farming in Zambia. With backgrounds in human rights law, advocacy, gender studies and compliance, our regional specialists come from every continent. They bring a nuanced and contextualised perspective to our work.
How we Help
We help businesses meet their obligation to respect human rights by:
Designing, implementing and conducting gap analysis of standalone human rights policies and embedding human rights considerations to other business areas.
Assessing human rights risks and impacts (HRRAs and HRIAs) and recommending mitigation and remediation measures, including in conflict settings.
Evaluating the human rights policies and track record of suppliers, contractors, customers and acquisition targets.
Supporting global businesses identify and address human rights risks across their value chain, aligned with new and emerging supply chain regulations
Screening investment portfolios to identify and monitor high-risk holdings.
Investigating allegations of human rights abuses and supporting businesses to develop remediation plans.
Partnering with human rights law firms and NGOs to advocate for communities and society harmed by corporate wrongdoing.