UNGPs
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (HRC Resolution 17/4, 16 June 2011)
Topic : Human rights · Level : Sector-specific
Today
Soft law, unchanged. Basis of human rights due diligence in CSDDD, LkSG, French duty of vigilance and OECD Guidelines.
Summary
The UN Guiding Principles set the global expectation that companies respect human rights through policy, due diligence and remedy. They are soft law but underpin binding laws such as CSDDD and LkSG.
Who is concerned
- Turnover
- non précisé
- Employees
- non précisé
- Listed company
- non précisé
- Sectors
- All sectors
- Triggering activities
- Any business enterprise
- Incorporated into national due diligence laws
- Extraterritorial reach
- Yes
Responsibility covers impacts linked to own operations, products and business relationships worldwide.
- Examples
- EU brand mapping Chinese factories
- Chinese exporter asked for HRDD policy
What the law requires
- Adopt a board-approved human rights policy
- Conduct human rights due diligence across value chain
- Provide or cooperate in remediation and grievance mechanisms
Penalties
None; enforced through national laws (e.g. CSDDD, LkSG).
What this changes for a supplier in China
Buyers apply UNGP-based due diligence to Chinese suppliers: forced labour, working hours, wages and grievance channels are checked in audits.
Expected evidence
- Human rights policy and code of conduct
- Social audit report (SMETA/amfori BSCI)
- Grievance mechanism records
Tiers : Tier 1-N