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Human Rights: It is your Business

8 December 2005

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The case for corporate engagement

As many as eight out of ten people think that companies should be at least partially responsible for reducing human rights abuses. This is but one example of a rising tide of expectations faced by business from a range of stakeholders on the issue of business and human rights.

This paper summarises these expectations and, in the context of greater public and media scrutiny of the impact of business on society, describes evolving good practice on how the corporate response can be managed effectively and efficiently.

The debate on boundaries of corporate responsibility continues to evolve and in a time of increasing global competitive pressure it is particularly timely to revisit the business case for companies to take the issue of human rights seriously.

By acting on human rights, companies can:

1. Safeguard reputation and brand image

2. Gain competitive advantage

3. Improve recruitment, retention and staff loyalty

4. Foster greater productivity

5. Secure and maintain a licence to operate

6. Reduce cost burdens

7. Ensure active stakeholder engagement

8. Meet investor expectations

"Action on human rights is hard work, and it doesn't just fall into place. You have to keep working at it and change the corporate culture, but there has not been any alternative as far as I am concerned. It is a business imperative."

Neil Makin, Cadbury Schweppes external director