the human rights and business country risk portal
DESCRIPTION
This presentation describes objective and contents of the Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal, a free website that helps companies identify, assess and address human rights risks in the countries where they operate. The Country Risk Portal will be launched at CountryRiskPortal.org on 1 Dec., 2010.TRANSCRIPT
About DIHR
Why Country Risk?
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Full Portal and pilot year
Country Risk Briefing contents
Feedback and discussion
The Danish Institute for Human Rights
National Human Rights Institution
The Danish Institute for Human Rights
Founded 1987
National and International Mandate
Human Rights and Business Department
Established 1999
Corporate engagement
Research and tool development
The Danish Institute for Human Rights
Capacity building
Why country risk?
Why country risk?
Country Conditions Impact Operations Characteristics of local markets create human rights risks for companies
Why country risk?
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Violence Informal justice
EMPLOYMENT
Child labor Employee housing
LAND MANAGEMENT
Legal titles Compensation
CONTRACTORS
Support services Recruitment Construction
PROCUREMENT
Supplier working conditions Migrant labour
LEGAL AFFAIRS
Prosecuting minors Entrenched discrimination
SECURITY FORCES
Excessive use of force Unlawful equipment Political affiliations
COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES
Water use Pollution
PRODUCTS
Unlawful use Unintended misuse
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Privacy Electoral rights Health/education services Regulatory environment
Country Conditions Impact Operations Characteristics of local markets create human rights risks for companies
Why country risk?
Current Approaches Company country risk assessment practices
NO SYSTEMATIC FRAMEWORK
Companies lack standard procedures for investigating direct risk and possible
complicity with state violations
REPUTATIONAL RISK FOCUS
Companies focus on the issues where they are vulnerable to public pressure, and
disregard issues where they may have greatest impact on human rights
LARGE ENTERPRISES
Small and medium-size companies lack resources to assess country risk and
develop country-specific policies and procedures
What is the Country Risk Portal?
The Country Risk Portal is a free website that helps
companies identify, assess and address human rights
risks in their operations and supply chains.
In a Nutshell
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Country
Risk What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk
Company
Risk What is the relevance of these risks to
my operations and supply chain?
What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the relevance of these risks to
my operations and supply chain?
How can I manage risk, prevent
violations and avoid complicity?
What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the relevance of these risks to
my operations and supply chain?
How can I manage risk, prevent
violations and ensure non-complicity?
What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers? Identify
Address
Assess
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
Country
Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
While women’s right to property is recognised
in the constitution, customary law requires
women to obtain permission from a male
guardian to acquire land.
Property Ownership VULNERABLE GROUP: WOMEN
Country Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
DIRECT VIOLATIONS
Societal structures in rural areas may exclude women from compensation for appropriated land COMPLICITY RISK
The company may purchase land that has been cleared of its previous inhabitants by the government or other third parties
Country
Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
COMPANY POLICIES
Recognize women’s right to property under national and international law COMPANY PROCEDURES
Investigate customary ownership of land Establish grievance procedures
Country
Risk
Company
Risk
Due
Diligence
What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
How is the Portal Different?
How is the Portal Different?
Comprehensive Coverage The Portal addresses all internationally
recognized human rights
1
How is the Portal Different?
Comprehensive Coverage
CHILD LABOUR
The right to education; The right to work
and just and favourable conditions of work
CORRUPTION The right to take part in government
DISCRIMINATION The right to freedom from discrimination
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY The right to health; The right to work and just and favourable conditions of work
MIGRATION The right to freedom of movement
LIVING STANDARDS The right to an adequate standard of living
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE The right to participate in cultural life; The right to freedom from discrimination
HOUSING The right to adequate housing
HEALTH The right to health
FORCED LABOUR The right to freedom from forced labour and servitude
FOOD SECURITY The right to adequate food
FAIR TRIAL The right to fair trial and recognition as a person before the law
ENVIRONMENT The right to health; The right to adequate food; The right to an adequate standard of living
WORKING CONDITIONS The right to work and just and favourable conditions of work
TRADE UNIONS The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP The right to own property
PRIVACY The right to privacy
POLITICAL RIGHTS The right to take part in government; The right to freedom of opinion, expression, thought, conscience and religion
PUBLIC SECURITY
FORCES The right to freedom from torture; The right to life, liberty and security of person
How is the Portal Different?
Freely Available All Portal information is published online, free of charge 2
Addresses needs of small and medium-size enterprises
Ongoing participation of local civil society
Links to in-country multistakeholder initiatives
How is the Portal Different?
In-Country Process Portal information is extended through engagement with
local business, civil society and government stakeholders
3
Gathers information not available through desk research
Provides case study examples of current business practices
Identifies country-level priorities and initiatives
Ongoing updates
Portal Development
Portal Development
Objective The Portal aims to cover 100+ countries over the next four years
Portal Development
Objective The Portal aims to cover 100+ countries over the next four years
Portal Pilot DIHR has been funded to create a pilot version of the Country Risk
Portal throughout 2010
ACTIVITIES
• Needs assessment
• Stakeholder consultation
• Country risk information for 20
countries
• Three in-country processes
• Launch CountryRiskPortal.org
OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate content and
functionality
• Ensure that Portal meets
needs of target users
1. Bangladesh
2. Bolivia
3. Burkina Faso
4. Ghana
5. Kenya
6. Mali
7. Mozambique
8. Nepal
9. Nicaragua
10. Tanzania
11. Uganda
12. Vietnam
13. Zambia
14. China
15. India
16. Brazil
17. Russia
18. Indonesia
19. Egypt
20. South Africa
1. Indonesia
2. Kenya
3. South Africa
Portal Development
Pilot Countries Country risk information
will be published for:
In-Country Process Country missions will be
conducted in:
Country Risk Contents
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
I. Human Rights Profile Summary of private-sector risk
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues The most urgent human rights risks to
address in policy and procedures
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
Legal Protection
Rights Enjoyment
Company Violations
Complicity Risk
RISK INFORMATION
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues The most urgent human rights risks to
address in policy and procedures
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
Human Rights Standard
Company Policy
Company Procedures
RECOMMENDATIONS
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues The most urgent human rights risks to
address in policy and procedures
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis International commitments, risks in national law
IV. Sector Risk
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk Risks and reported violations in
major industry sectors
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
VI. Proactive Initiatives
V. High-Risk Regions
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
IV. High-Risk Regions Subnational areas that present
additional risk to business
VI. Proactive Initiatives
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
IV. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives How can business contribute to
sustainable development
Align with poverty alleviation strategies,
ongoing private sector projects
BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT
What prevents business activities from
contributing to development?
EXISTING INITIATIVES
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback
Download Test Briefings and feedback form at
humanrightsbusiness.org
Send all comments and questions to
Testing The Country Risk Portal is currently undergoing testing
with all stakeholder groups
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback
Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback
Feedback The Country Risk Portal is commissioning feedback and
comments on the following issues:
GENERAL COMMENTS
Is this concept and execution useful to your work in the field of business and human rights?
ORGANIZATION
What are the most relevant sections in the test briefings?
INFORMATION
What additional information would be useful?
