This week, the UN City in Copenhagen set the stage for an event and workshop focusing on companies’ ability to know and show that the business community supports and respects the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and that it is not complicit in human rights abuses. Now, Global Compact Network Denmark invites businesses to join the new programme Business & Human Rights Accelerator to accelerate that exact work.
At Global Compact Network Denmark, we are delighted to meet so many engaged, passionate and ambitious members ready to put not just words, but thorough due diligence, into action. Employees from the private sector, NGOs and government officials gathered in the UN City in Copenhagen this week to discuss how to approach challenges, opportunities and difficulties related to companies’ work with their human rights efforts.
The event “Meeting Expectations on Human Rights Disclosure” was hosted by Global Compact Network Denmark, The Danish Institute for Human Rights, and Ethical Trade Denmark. A key take-away from the event and workshop was the clear message: Stay courageous and transparent!
Lene Westergaard, Head of Programmes for Human Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Anti-Corruption at Global Compact Network Denmark.
“The idea of human rights is as simple as it is powerful: That all people have a right to be treated with dignity,” says Lene Westergaard, Head of Programmes for Human Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Anti-Corruption at Global Compact Network Denmark.
How to drive change?
Businesses often find it more difficult to approach their due diligence work on human rights than that on climate and environment. But there is a huge potential for meaningful impact in businesses human rights effort. The way the private sector choses to approach human rights work can spill over to supply chains and, in fact, their efforts to improve their footprint on the climate and environment.
‘Meeting Expectations on Human Rights Disclosure’ took place in the UN City Copenhagen, December 6th.
“Businesses often impact the human rights of their employees and contract workers, workers in their supply chains, the communities around their operations and even the end users of their products or services. Whether directly or indirectly, they impact virtually the entire spectrum of internationally recognized human rights,” says Lene Westergaard.
As a result, companies have both a responsibility and an opportunity to advance human rights across operations, supply chains and beyond.
Business & Human Rights Accelerator
The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a six-month programme activating companies participating in the UN Global Compact across industries and regions. This hands-on programme will help you move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights through establishing an ongoing human rights due diligence process.
During ‘Meeting Expectations on Human Rights Disclosure’, members from the business community worked in groups, discussing how to document and communicate their human rights impact.
When human rights are brought up to the highest levels of the company there are better conditions for them to be realized. Lene Westergaard points out that a main question that businesses should consider would be:
Is your company able to know and show that it supports and respects the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and that it is not complicit in human rights abuses?
If not, the programme is designed to get you started and give you the insights needed to create concrete action. Sign up here.
Registration deadline: December 16
