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Article

28 Jun 2013

Author:
Peter McAllister, Ethical Trading Initiative, on Business Fights Poverty blog

When words are not enough

[W]e all share at least part of the responsibility for the conditions that allowed the Rana Plaza disaster to happen...This concept of shared responsibility sits at the very heart of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights...The UN Guiding Principles...provide an excellent lens through which to view the response to Bangladesh’s chronic health and safety issues...But are the framework and principles gaining enough traction yet to affect any real change in how we look at issues and avert, rather than respond to, future disasters?...It’s encouraging to see that some large companies have embraced the guiding principles, as have multi-lateral political entities such as the European Commission...[W]e’ve enjoyed a honeymoon period of getting to know the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights...Now it’s time for businesses and governments alike to step up to the challenge at hand and turn these good words into actions.