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UN Guiding Principles

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.

They were proposed by UN Special Representative on business and human rights John Ruggie, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011.  In the same resolution, the UN Human Rights Council established the UN Working Group on business & human rights.

The UNGPs rest on three pillars

I

Protect

State duty to protect human rights.

II

Respect

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights.

III

Remedy

Access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses

Credit: Danish Institute for Human Rights

UN Working Group on Business & Human Rights

Official website of the UN Working Group

Find the latest information and reports on the activities, sessions, country visits and communications of the UN Working Group

2024 UN Forum on Business & Human Rights

Find information on the 13th UN Forum on Business & Human Rights

Making a submission to the UN Working Group

Find information on how to submit information to the Working Group

In Memory of Prof. John G. Ruggie, 1944-2021

The business and human rights community paid tribute to the author of the UN Guiding Principles, who died in September 2021, mourning this loss and commemorating the achievement, life and legacy of John Ruggie.

UN Guiding Principles at 10

In June 2021 the Working Group undertook a project informed by wide-ranging stakeholder consultations, to chart a course for a decade of action on business and human rights, to mark the 10th anniversary of the UNGPs.

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