Human rights due diligence has been receiving greater attention from policymakers, businesses and civil society groups since the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework in 2008 and its Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights in 2011. This CIDSE briefing explains what human rights due diligence is and, referring to examples of existing practice in due diligence, how it should be implemented by businesses and the essential role of States in this regard. Taking examples of concrete situations on the ground, it argues that if effectively implemented, human rights due diligence can help to prevent and address human rights abuses. [Refers to Aviva, Bolloré, Financière du champ de Mars, Glencore Xstrata, Intercultures, Michelin, Nestlé, Sagittarius Mines, SOCAPALM, SOCFINAL (now known as Socfin)]