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
Further Reading
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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