Businesses must have regard to human rights in several different contexts. In the UK, businesses which perform a public function have duties under the Human Rights Act…This report considers this complex range of issues, starting from the position that the UK should play a leadership role to ensure that all firms respect human rights wherever they operate. The main focus of the international debate is on the work of the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on human rights and transnational corporations and other business entities, Professor Ruggie…We argue that an international agreement on business and human rights should be the ultimate objective, although we accept that no such agreement is likely in the near future. [refers to Afrimex, Amalgamated Metal Corporation (AMC), Associated British Foods, BP, BT, Consulting Association, GlaxoSmithKline, Google, News Group Newspapers, News of the World, Rio Tinto, Shell, Tesco, Thaisarco (part of AMC), Trafigura, Vedanta Resources]