human rights compliance assessment presentation
DESCRIPTION
This is a presentation we've made to promote the Human Rights Compliance Assessment, a checklist tool that allows companies to measure their human rights performance. We would be very interested to hear comments on this presentation. We hope it's self-explanatory, but we welcome any feedback on content or presentation. We created this tool to improve companies' human rights performance, so it's very important that we get the messaging right. Thanks for your feedback!TRANSCRIPT
The Human Rights Compliance Assessment
This presentation describes the concept,
features and application of the Human
Rights Compliance Assessment, a
comprehensive tool that allows businesses
to measure their performance on
international human rights principles.
About this Presentation
Access the HRCA at
HumanRightsBusiness.org
1. The need for a human rights tool
2. What is the HRCA?
3. HRCA content and features
4. How to use the HRCA
5. The HRCA in practice
6. Accessing the HRCA
Agenda
1. The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Why is it important to systematically assess your company’s human rights risks and performance?
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
1. Improve Human Rights
Performance
Human rights assessments help companies prevent and mitigate abuses, and avoid complicity in human rights violations committed by third parties
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Reduce reputational risk
1. Improve Human Rights
Performance
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Legal liability
Companies are increasingly exposed to home, host and extraterritorial legislation concerning their social impacts
1. Improve Human Rights
Performance
Reduce reputational risk
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Operational risk
Human rights violations can lead to blockades, work stoppages, sabotage and other actions that could affect output.
1. Improve Human Rights
Performance
Legal liability
Reduce reputational risk
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
2. Corporate Commitments
Human rights assessments help companies implement their values
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
2. Corporate Commitments
External commitments
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
2. Corporate Commitments
Internal commitments
Code of conduct
Business principles
More than 250 multinational companies have publicly committed to upholding human rights principles in their operations
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
3. Investor Requirements
60% of worldwide project finance includes social criteria
Socially responsible investment makes up 11% of U.S.
investment flows
Reputational Risk and
Non-Technical Risk
4. Unclear Responsibilities in
Challenging Locations
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Human rights assessments help companies set standards and performance benchmarks when operating in high-risk environments
Reputational Risk and
Non-Technical Risk
4. Unclear Responsibilities in
Challenging Locations
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Legal conflicts
International standards may be absent or contradicted in domestic law
Reputational Risk and
Non-Technical Risk
4. Unclear Responsibilities in
Challenging Locations
The Need for a Human Rights Tool
Complicity in violations
Companies may assist in or benefit from host state rights abuses
The Human Rights Compliance Assessment is an online checklist tool that allows companies to comprehensively measure their compliance with international human rights principles.
2. What is the HRCA?
Benchmark and improve human rights
performance
Monitor and report progress
Define legal responsibilities and development
opportunities
Build internal awareness and capacity
What is the HRCA?
HRCA objective
HRCA Objective:
Benchmark and improve human rights
performance
Monitor and report performance
Define legal responsibilities and development
opportunities
Build internal awareness and capacity
What is the HRCA?
Monitor and report performance
How does the HRCA make human
rights standards operational?
What is the HRCA?
How does the HRCA make human
rights standards operational?
What is the HRCA?
80 international
human rights
instruments
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, International Labour
Organization Core Conventions, etc.
Translate
into
Company
Policy
Company
Procedures
Company
Performance
What is the HRCA?
Example:
Right to Religious Freedom
Human Rights Instruments
The right is recognized in:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)
International Labour Organization:
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
What is the HRCA?
Example:
Right to Religious Freedom
What does this rights principle mean for companies?
What is the HRCA?
Example:
Right to Religious Freedom
Company Policy
The company publicly commits to:
Recognize religious expression
Prohibit religious harassment
What is the HRCA?
Example:
Right to Religious Freedom
Company Procedures
Systems, directives and guidelines ensure that:
Workers are allowed to take religious holidays
Workers are allowed to express religion at the workplace
If abuses occur, workers can file grievances confidentially
and anonymously
What is the HRCA?
Example:
Right to Religious Freedom
Company Performance
Company monitoring and audits:
Track incidents of harassment
Follow up on grievances
What is the HRCA?
80 international
human rights
instruments
Translate
into
Company
Policy
Company
Procedures
Company
Performance
3. HRCA Content and Features
The HRCA Tool
Traffic light system
Legal liability
Summary report and follow-up Action Plan
Checklist Tool
Quantitative performance scoring
The HRCA Tool
All internationally recognized human rights
200 questions and more than 1,000 company
policy, procedure and performance indicators
Comprehensive Coverage
The HRCA Tool
Questions target company function areas
Comprehensive Coverage
Employment Practices Forced labour Child labour and young workers Non-discrimination
Freedom of association Working conditions Workplace health and safety
Community Impact Acquisition of land Environmental impact Provision of housing, water,
sanitation, electricity, education and healthcare Operations in remote areas
Supplier, Customer and Government Relations Supply chain and recruitment agency management Advertising and labeling
Complicity in violations by third parties Bribery and corruption
The HRCA Tool
2002-2005: Consultation process
Consultation and Testing
70 companies, 50 human rights organizations,
35 international rights experts
Piloted with Shell International
Content and interface fully updated in 2010
Getting started
4. How to Use the HRCA
Using the HRCA
1. Log On
Using the HRCA
2. Choose sector and countries of operation
Using the HRCA
3. View checklist
Using the HRCA
4. Answer questions and indicators
Using the HRCA
5. Review summary report
5. The HRCA in Practice
How companies use the HRCA
Meet human rights commitments
Develop internal policies and systems
Compare to external human rights frameworks
The HRCA in Practice
Customise to company
Tailor human rights checklists to company operations,
locations and function areas
The HRCA in Practice
‘We have been working with DIHR since 2007 to develop a tool our
subsidiaries and units can use to make sure that their practices are
in fact aligned with the Total Code of Conduct and the principles set
forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO’s
fundamental conventions.’
— Total Oil Environment and Society Report 2009
Customise to sector
Pharmaceutical Financial
Tailor human rights checklists to risks associated with
certain industries and activities
Right to health
Access to medicines
Valuation criteria
Project finance
Stakeholder engagement
The HRCA in Practice
Site Visits
DIHR applies checklists by interviewing country managers
and local function-area heads
The HRCA in Practice
‘The methodology makes it possible, by means of self assessments
guided by independent experts from the Danish Institute for Human
Rights, to identify behaviour and decisions that can have an impact on
human rights in all types of business and operational areas.’ — Eni.com
Self-Application
The company conducts its own site visits and interviews,
with DIHR assisting in initial scoping and final data analysis
The HRCA in Practice
Novartis Indonesia tested a draft version of the HRCA tool for pharmaceutical
companies […] Testing the tool particularly improves the methodology and the
integration into existing management systems of pharmaceutical companies
— Novartis Communication on Progress, 2009
Supply Chain
‘In 2007, Groupe SEB decided to assess the
practices of all its sites of more than 10
employees regarding respect for human rights,
with the HRCA’
— GroupeSEB.com
The company applies the HRCA in
its suppliers and business partners
The HRCA in Practice
The HRCA in Practice
Identifying Due Diligence
Companies use the HRCA to identify due diligence steps
toward preventing and mitigating human rights abuses,
particularly in challenging contexts
Internal Awareness-Raising
The operational nature of the tool allows managers and
employees to tie specific tasks to broader objectives,
increasing uptake and retention
Additional Checks
HRCA Quick Check
Free, condensed version of HRCA
Additional Checks
Developed in cooperation with
development finance institutions, SMEs
Measures company performance against
all 10 Global Compact Principles
Additional Checks
China Check
Checklists tailored to Chinese law
and practice
Developed in cooperation with
Chinese businesses, government
officials and NGOs
Additional Checks
6. Accessing The HRCA
Accessing the HRCA
Subscription
Free versions
Accessing the HRCA
Subscription
Free versions