Background

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​In today's globalized world, businesses are increasingly expected to demonstrate responsible business conduct that respects human rights and labour rights and protects the environment. To address these expectations, three international instruments have emerged as essential references for businesses: the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (OECD Guidelines).

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​Understanding these instruments and the linkages between them is crucial for businesses as they navigate the complex landscape of changing business environments, technological developments, geopolitical tensions, and stakeholder expectations. By familiarizing themselves with the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration and the OECD Guidelines, participants will understand how they can promote the positive contribution of business to inclusive growth and sustainable development and prevent and address adverse impacts.

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Enabling access to remedy when companies have caused, or contributed to adverse impacts through their direct operations or business relationships is one of the common elements across all three of these international instruments. These instruments show that both States and businesses have a role to play in providing access to remedy when human rights, including workers’ rights, are harmed in the context of business operations. 

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Providing for, or cooperating in, remediation is also included in several recent and emerging mandatory regulations on supply chain due diligence. Therefore, understanding what this process means in practice will assist businesses to prepare for current and upcoming regulatory requirements.​

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About the session

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​The training session aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the common elements across the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration, and the OECD MNE Guidelines with a special emphasis on the mechanisms for access to remedy as outlined in the three instruments. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of these instruments and learn about their interlinkages and how to apply them in business operations to promote decent work, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.

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Objectives

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The main objectives of this session are to:

• To familiarize participants with the key principles and provisions of the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration, and the OECD Guidelines including those related to access to remedy.

• To explore the shared goals, interlinkages, consistent approach and complementary nature of the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration and the OECD MNE Guidelines.

• To discuss practical approaches for implementing the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration and the OECD MNE Guidelines in business operations, with a focus on ensuring effective access to remedy for affected individuals and communities.

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Key questions

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• What are the key principles and provisions of the UNGPs, the ILO MNE Declaration, and the OECD Guidelines, including those related to access to remedy?

• How can businesses effectively integrate these instruments into their existing policies and practices to ensure coherence and consistency?

• How should businesses implement the remediation process, according to these instruments, to prepare for current and upcoming regulatory requirements on supply chain due diligence?

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Session partners