[日本政府による「責任あるサプライチェーンにおける人権尊重のためのガイドライン」の策定を歓迎 ] 2022年9月14日

[Japanese-to-English translation: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

On behalf of the UNDP, I welcome and congratulate the Government of Japan on the development of the Guidelines on Respect for Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains.[...]

The development of these guidelines, together with the adoption of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in October 2020, will demonstrate Japan's contribution to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and strengthen its position as a global leader in responsible supply chains.

Through these efforts, the Government of Japan has reaffirmed its support for sustainable development. Preventing and addressing the adverse impacts on business activities and value chains is the greatest contribution that companies can make toward achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

We welcome that the Guidelines specifically note the need for strengthened human rights due diligence, particularly in conflict-affected areas. We also appreciate the commitment by the Government of Japan and industry to take the necessary considerations related to human rights and conflict into account when assessing the impact of business activities in supply chains located in such areas.

Given the global nature of supply chains, this type of policy is crucial for encouraging positive and transformative change beyond the country in which the policy is implemented. The guidelines adopted by the Government of Japan will have a direct and indirect impact on the future business activities of thousands of companies and suppliers across the region and the world.

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