Remedying Human Rights Risks

Kate Larsen

20 years: Human Rights and Supply Chains

In this video, Kate discusses how to remedy human rights risks in business value chains and how companies should be reporting on them.

Supply Chains

In this video, Kate discusses how to remedy human rights risks in business value chains and how companies should be reporting on them.

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Remedying Human Rights Risks

11 mins 33 secs

Key learning objectives:

Understand the concept of human rights due diligence in business operations and value chains
Outline key features of effective grievance mechanisms

Overview:

Businesses are expected to actively identify and address human rights risks within their value chains. Effective human rights due diligence involves mapping out potential negative impacts, such as poor working conditions, environmental harm, and privacy infringements. Companies should not only report these risks but also implement grievance mechanisms that are accessible to vulnerable workers. Examples include helplines for reporting rights violations and partnerships with organisations like Unseen for modern slavery issues. Investors play a crucial role by engaging with companies to ensure they are taking appropriate actions to remedy these issues, such as paying compensation or improving working conditions. Effective human rights due diligence contributes to achieving sustainable development goals and improving livelihoods for vulnerable populations globally.

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Summary

How should companies report human rights risks and remedies?

Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and various due diligence legislation, companies are expected to report on how they are addressing human rights risks. This includes:

Grievance Mechanisms - Effective channels for affected individuals to report issues
Transparency - Clear reporting on how they are causing or influencing remedy
Data and Specific Groups - Details on the exact groups receiving remedies and supporting data

What is the role of investors and banks in human rights due diligence?

Investors and banks play a crucial role in influencing companies to improve human rights practices. They should:

Engage and Monitor - Regularly engage with companies on labour, safety, environmental, and data rights management improvements
Report and Influence - Include human rights issues in various reports such as ESG, CSR, and sustainability reports, and influence companies to establish effective grievance mechanisms
Legislation Compliance - Adhere to legislation like the USA's Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which highlights the risks of sourcing from regions linked to forced labour

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Kate Larsen

Kate Larsen is a Director at SupplyESChange advising and training Investors and Companies on Environmental and Social issues of ESG, especially, human rights risk management in global supply chains. She has worked over 20 years on supply chain ESG including leading Asia Corporate Responsibility in the UK FTSE100 company Burberry and as a Global Director Responsible Sourcing in a US Nasdaq listed retailer.

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