UN Forum Series blog: The Guiding Principles have been a game changer
In this relatively short time we have seen many companies have undertaken tremendous efforts to implement the UNGPs. Efforts range from policy commitments, operational guidance, governance mechanisms related to human rights, understanding impacts across diverse functions, undertaking human rights due diligence in diverse forms, and training programmes and capacity building within companies and business partners. The implementation of the UNGPs is also promoted at SME level through supply chain management. We can also see huge support for the UNGPs at the political level. More and more governments around the world are engaged in drafting National Action Plans (NAPs)...We have of course not yet achieved all our desired objectives. The implementation of the UNGPs is a process and all actors need to continue their efforts to engage more governments and more businesses of all sizes from diverse industries and geographies. However, it is too often overlooked how much the UNGPs have been a game changer and how deeply they have affected company behaviour and the political debate...[W]e have to better use and better analyse available data. Thousands of GRI Communication of Progress Reports within the Global Compact are publicly available. This wealth of data and information should be fully used to better understand challenges and successes in the implementation of the UNGPs...