Collaboration on human rights and business starts with the Americas

The port of Valparaiso, Chile
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Danish Institute for Human Rights sign joint declaration on collaboration.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights have formalised future cooperation.

The collaboration aims to strengthen national human rights systems in the areas of promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) with particular focus on the areas of business and human rights and sustainable development in the Americas. The collaboration is based on applicable international and regional human rights principles and instruments, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).

The actions envisaged as part of the collaboration include exchange of knowledge and capacity building, advising Member States of the Organization of America States on implementation of business and human rights standards, supporting the integration of these standards into the work of the IACHR, and a range of other activities.

Business is key to human rights

This collaboration comes on the heels of the adoption of a OAS General Assembly resolution from June 2014 concerning the promotion and protection of human rights in business, in which the General Assembly resolved to promote the application of the UNGPs and encourages member states and their national human rights institutions to foster constructive dialogue among all stakeholder groups on the application of the UNGPs. The resolution also requests the IACHR to support states in the promotion and application of state and business commitments in the area of human rights and business.

"The Danish Institute for Human Rights is proud to enter into this collaboration with the IACHR. The protection and fulfillment of human rights cannot happen without addressing the role of business. While international norms in this area have been clarified, they will only become effective through regional and national implementation. The IACHR is a key actor in this regard and we look forward to working closely with the Commission in the years to come," Executive Director, Jonas Christoffersen noted.

About the IACHR

A principal, autonomous body of the OAS, the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights.

The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area.

The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.