International Human Rights Day 2009

As the world marks International Human Rights Day this 10 December, major companies are being urged to make public commitments to respect human rights. Over 240 companies worldwide now have a policy statement on their commitment to human rights, among them Anglo American, Cerrejón, Codelco, GE, HSBC, Mitsubishi, Nokia and Statoil.

Realizing Rights and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre are continuing their efforts to encourage more companies to adopt similar policies. Building on their successful initiative in 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the two organizations are drawing international attention to the growing number of companies that have taken this important step and urging more to take leadership in this important area.

Over the months leading up to the 10th anniversary of the UN Global Compact in June 2010, Mary Robinson, founder and President of Realizing Rights, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and member of the UN Global Compact Board is writing to CEOs from major companies around the world, including companies that have committed themselves to the Global Compact principles, asking whether their firm has a human rights policy statement, and encouraging them to adopt one if they do not.

Company human rights policy statements will be added to the running list on the Resource Centre website:

www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/Policies

The list includes stand-alone human rights policies as well as human rights commitments that sit within a broader policy or code of conduct – but all explicitly refer to "human rights". The list also indicates which policies refer to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Policies that do not apply to the full range of a company’s operations, for example if they refer only to employees, or to the company’s supply chain, while important, are not included on this particular list.

The initiative is focusing in this phase on companies headquartered in the following emerging and developed markets: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania and Turkey. However, any company with a human rights policy that is not yet featured on the running list can notify the Resource Centre (see below).

In her letter to CEOs, Mary Robinson sets out the reasons why companies should adopt a human rights policy.

The UN Special Representative on Business & Human Rights, John Ruggie, has recommended that companies adopt a human rights policy as a part of their due diligence in living up to the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. The UN Global Compact – with over 6000 participating companies – has two principles relating to human rights, and also recommends companies adopt their own human rights policy.

Any company with a human rights policy statement wishing to be added to the list should notify Annabel Short at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: short@business-humanrights.org.