"Legal Engagement for Human Rights in Business", 25 Oct 2014

The IBA [International Bar Association] conference provides an international platform for discussion across multiple legal disciplines including the expansion of the discussion concerning business and legal implications of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This is an area of emerging business policy, best practice and legal development that is as equally applicable within the likes of the extractives industry where it has already been comprehensively applied, as it is in the maritime industry, where comprehensive engagement with the UNGPs has yet to be implemented. [Among the topics discussed during the conference were Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the UNGPs]...CSR is the responsibility of all directors and employees within a company, including, but not limited to suppliers in the associated supply chains...[A]n understanding of one’s own company CSR policy and conduct in terms of safeguarding human rights provisions under the UNGPs such that issues can be prevented before they occur, is a proactive stance that has previously been underestimated in its effect...Assisting maritime businesses to understand and embed in their culture compliance with the UNGPs as best practice, should now be properly considered across the industry...The use of lawyers with contextualized expertise who support the concept of the UNGPs is key to keeping the current attention on the development of model reporting and assurance documents, related implementing policies and protocols for business to effectively implement the UNGPs in their daily activities.