Overview

The purpose of this section is to set out the various resources available for business managers as they seek to turn strategy into policy.

Companies should begin by performing a gap analysis to determine what is missing within policies – the Business and Human Rights Matrix is a helpful tool for this. Your company should then consider whether to create and implement an overall human rights policy.

Policy Graph





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Steps

  1. Identify where human rights are included in your existing policies
  2. Develop a policy and/or statement for your business which references international human rights standards and conventions  
  3. Define and embed appropriate management responsibilities
  4. Ensure the policy implementation and results are reviewed systematically
 

Key Messages

  • Policies translate the core values and strategy of a business into action
  • Human rights statements can come in the form of a specific policy or a collection of references to human rights
  • It is essential to ensure executive level buy-in and clear ownership within the company  
 

Benefits

  • It makes it easier to view and review your overall approach to human rights
  • It helps you check policy alignment with your business’s human rights strategy
  • It provides an easily accessible document for your stakeholders to check your performance
  • It ensures you have a public statement to frame responses to human rights questions
  • It assists in developing understanding  of human rights at different levels of the business
 

The Guide for Integrating Human Rights into Business Management is developed by: