The NAP contains five core elements as guidelines on how human rights due diligence is to be effectively included in a company’s management processes...

The German Government has set up a process to monitor the implementation of these core elements...

Companies will be rated as “compliers” or “non‑compliers” in the NAP monitoring process, depending on whether or not they have introduced the core elements of human rights due diligence adequately. If a company has not (yet) carried out certain procedures and measures, it can state how it intends to meet the targets by the end of 2020. In early 2021, the German Government will verify whether it has actually put these plans into practice.

The monitoring process thus not only provides information on the current status of implementation and on any shortcomings, but also reveals development potential and motivates firms to respect human rights more proactively, to create transparency and to benefit from others’ experiences...

The idea of the NAP is to give companies the opportunity to meet their human rights obligations voluntarily... However, should the survey reveal that voluntary undertakings are not enough, the German Government will consider further action from 2020 onwards that may culminate in legislative measures.