Trócaire recently released a manual titled “Business and Human Rights: An Advocacy” aimed at helping its staff and partners focusing on issues concerning corporations and human rights, by providing a clear overview of the various mechanisms which exist to hold corporations to account for their actions with regard to human rights.
The manual highlights how business plays a pivotal role in the fight against poverty and has a crucial role to play in the development process through much needed investment, job creation and training.
This manual is designed to equip all those who wish to engage with these issues and work for greater accountability and transparency in the operations of business in countries of the developing world with information on the avenues open to them.
It is intended as a practical resource, giving information about how to access these mechanisms and providing case studies of successful use by civil society organisations. The guide attempts to outline some of the core concepts and debates, and in particular, to highlight that all concerned NGOs and stakeholders can and should take part in holding businesses to account.
The manual also details how companies are an important player in the development agenda as they bring together capital, labour and knowledge to address the needs of their societies. It also talks about how the countries with weaker governance systems, business actors, in particular trans-national corporations (TNCs) may in some cases play an unconstructive role, where they contribute to environmental degradation and human rights abuses.
The chapters covered in the manual include:
1. What’s the problem? Current debates on business and human rights
2. People and profits: the business responsibility to respect human rights
3. A myriad of possibilities: industry, multi-stakeholder and civil society initatives
4. The state takes a stand: the duty to protect human rights
5. Where do human rights begin? the United Nations human rights system
6. United we stand: the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the trade union movement
7. Democracy and the market economy: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
8. Counting the cost: finance and investment
“Business and Human Rights: An Advocacy” is a practical manual for all the stakeholders interested in making the businesses more transparent and accountable with profitability without any human rights violations. Access this manual at this link.
