Database can help companies find responsible ways to contribute to sustainable development
‘Mining company makes space for women's participation’, ‘Trekking company addresses risk of underage workers’ and ‘Sugar producer upholds land rights’. These are the titles of three of the case stories accessible at a database, created by the Danish Institute for Human Rights to inspire companies on how to avoid and address their salient human rights issues while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs).
Ensuring coherent frameworks
Business actions on the SDGs too often remain disconnected from actions taken to respect human rights.
“Many companies’ efforts to realise the 2030 Agenda and respect human rights are handled in different departments and operate with different terminologies. The database offers an important pathway for companies to a more systematic and coherent framework for implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” says Cathrine Bloch Veiberg, senior advisor and programme manager at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
While the SDGs require rapid action if they are to be achieved by 2030, it is essential that respect for human rights remain an integral part of all such actions by the business community. If we are to ensure that “no one is left behind”, businesses must make sure they have no negative impacts on human rights and their related SDGs. Human rights due diligence is the pathway to sustainable contributions to the 2030 Agenda.
Almost 100 actions to address human rights risks
The new database biz.sdg.humanrights.dk, provides almost 100 real examples of businesses who have taken action to address their salient human rights issues, for example through the development of a bank’s policy statement on improper land acquisitions or detailed child labour remediation guidance. Alongside each example, users can see the specific SDGs and targets that the companies' actions are contributing to.
The accessible case stories are grouped according to frequently reported salient human rights issues and are categorised in line with the different steps of the human rights due diligence process outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
Read paper on the connection between responsible business and the 2030 Agenda
In the paper ' Responsible business conduct as a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda – a look at the implications' we unpack how business and states can work jointly with the 2030 Agenda and the UNGPs.