Business and Human Rights

Where we work

In today’s globalized world, companies operate in complex value chains that may span multiple countries. UNDP connects global expertise and networks with presence on-the-ground to generate momentum on business and human rights and help address knowledge gaps. UNDP currently has field programming in 40 countries in Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Explore our work by region:

    Africa

    Countries with field programming:

    •  Côte d'Ivoire
    •  Djibouti
    •  Ghana
    •  Kenya
    •  Malawi
    •  Morocco
    •  Mozambique
    •  Nigeria
    •  Senegal
    •  Sierra Leone
    •  Tunisia
    •  Uganda
    •  Zambia

    News
    2nd African Business and Human Rights Forum
    2nd African Business and Human Rights Forum calls for inclusive growth that respects human rights

    The second African Business and Human Rights Forum brought together more than 450 people from more than 45 African countries, with representation from government, civil society, business, Indigenous Peoples groups, trade unions, international and region organizations and national human rights institutions for dialogue and exchange on how to strengthen responsible business and corporate accountability in the region.

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    Publication
    Companies from Mozambique at the Business and Human Rights Academy
    B+HR Academy training held in Mozambique

    Representatives from around 40 companies from across Mozambique joined the Business and Human Rights Academy (B+HR Academy) to learn how to identify, prevent, mitigate and report on their current and potential impacts on human rights

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    Publication
    Cover of the Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Africa
    A Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Africa: From the First Decade to the Next

    A new assessment on the state of business and human rights in Africa takes stock of progress a decade after the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicate reasons for optimism, as some States have initiated the development of comprehensive policies to address corporate abuses, albeit slower than in other regions.

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    News
    Strengthening capacity to promote business and human rights in Ghana

    As Ghana develops its first national action plan on business and human rights, a training for the steering committee drafting the plan emphasized the need for strong collaboration, inclusion and non-discrimination in the development process.

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    Arab States

    Countries with field programming:

    •  Djibouti
    •  Morocco
    •  Tunisia

    Blog
    Palm trees in Tunisia
    Connecting business, human rights and biodiversity

    To evaluate the impact of human rights and conservation efforts, UNDP is assisting Tunisia in conducting a national baseline assessment on business and human rights that will help identify human rights challenges stemming from business operations.

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    Asia and the Pacific

    Countries with field programming:

    •  Bangladesh
    •  India
    •  Indonesia
    •  Japan
    •  Lao PDR
    •  Malaysia
    •  Maldives
    •  Mongolia
    •  Myanmar
    •  Nepal
    •  Pakistan
    •  Sri Lanka
    •  Thailand
    •  Viet Nam

    Press Release
    Three people stand in front of a podium holding Nepal's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
    Nepal Government Unveils National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

    The National Action Plan (NAP) endorsed by the government on 27 December 2023 – is a clear commitment from the Government of Nepal to promote economic development while safeguarding the rights of its citizens and the environment.

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    Publication
    A panel of speakers sits on a stage
    Dialogue takes forward business and human rights in Pakistan

    A dialogue between government, private sector, and civil society actors helps coordinate progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and cements the business and human rights agenda in the country, with particular focus on human rights due diligence

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    Publication
    Report mockup with cover and inside pages
    Report captures key takeaways from the UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum

    The 2022 Forum explored themes around harnessing ‘levers of change’ – areas of work with the potential to deliver wide-ranging change in the business and human rights agenda. Sessions delved into strategies that have been effective in promoting business respect for human rights and the environment, and spotlighted novel approaches to accelerate progress.

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    Video
    undp-bhr-asiainfocus
    UNDP launches Asia in Focus webcast series

    The Asia in Focus series takes a deep dive into the inter-linkages between business and human rights and the environment together with experts on human rights, climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity from across the Asia-Pacific region.

    Watch the series
    Speech
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    UNDP supports Mongolian Business and Human Rights National Forum

    Elaine Conkievich, UNDP Mongolia Resident Representative, opened a business and human rights forum in Mongolia that brought a spotlight on human rights issues in the country's businesses and provided an opportunity to collectively discuss ways to address adverse human rights impacts and prevent possible risks of future violations.

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    Publication
    Ramla Khalidi speaking at the Dias
    UNDP releases handbook for screening foreign investment projects in Viet Nam

    The tool developed by VCCI and UNDP will support provincial governments in assessing whether investments and projects integrate responsible business practices

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    News
    Report cover
    UNDP releases first of its kind analysis on the use of AI by businesses and its potential impact on human rights

    The report identifies risks and recommends mitigation strategies for policymakers and businesses in health, finance, retail, and gig to mainstream and protect human rights in India.

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    Publication
    Report cover
    Human Rights Due Diligence: An Interpretive Guide

    This guide is an excerpt of Chapter III of The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights, An Interpretive Guide developed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and provides additional background explanation to the second Pillar of the UNGPs that focuses on business responsibilities in respecting human rights.

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    Europe and Central Asia

    Countries with field programming:

    •  Azerbaijan
    •  Georgia
    •  Kazakhstan
    •  Kyrgyzstan
    •  Serbia
    •  Türkiye
    •  Ukraine

    Training
    International conference focuses on responsible business conduct in times of war



    On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international conference on business and human rights was held in Kyiv.

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    Training
    New virtual training courses will help companies stay human-oriented, effective and economically viable in conflict settings

    A new series of educational video courses provide comprehensive guidance on how to observe human rights in economic activities, mitigate possible reputational risks and promote just, inclusive and sustainable development, including in the context of conflict.

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    News
    B+HR Academy in Aktau
    From awareness to action: Fostering human rights engagement in Kazakhstan's business landscape

    More than 115 representatives of the business sector, trade unions, and non-governmental organizations joined a series of B+HR Academy training courses on human rights due diligence in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, and Aktau.

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    Publication
    Cover of publication
    The Status of the Implementation of the UNGPs on Business and Human Rights in Europe and Central Asia

    The progress in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) is uneven in Europe and Central Asia and challenged by ongoing socioeconomic, humanitarian, and conflict-related crises. The Scoping Study commissioned by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub assesses and documents the status of the implementation of UNGPs in the 18 countries and territories of Europe and Central Asia during 2021-2022.

    Download a copy
    News
    Woman works at at a sewing machine
    Accelerating the business and human rights agenda in the war setting

    At the 3rd UN Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, UNDP experts elaborated on the specific human rights impacts and human rights due diligence expectations of businesses operating in Ukraine, including the first findings of the Japan-supported country context assessment study.

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    News
    UNDP B+HR Academy trainings launched in Kazakhstan

    Training sessions in Alamaty, Astana and Atyrau on human rights due diligence aimed to build the capacity of Japanese companies and their affiliates on the development and implementation of human rights due diligence processes

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    News
    Louisa Vinton speaking at the dias
    UNDP promotes responsible business in Türkiye with support from Japan

    UNDP Türkiye launches project to improve human rights standards in business in Türkiye as part of a larger global project implemented in 17 different countries with funding from the Government of Japan.

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    Latin America and the Caribbean

    Countries with field programming:

    •  Brazil
    •  Mexico
    •  Panama
    •  Peru
    •  Venezuela

    Training
    New virtual course on BHR launched in Latin America and the Caribbean

    This e-learning course in the framework of the Global Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme, incorporating inputs from the gender, inclusive growth and SDG mainstreaming teams in the regional Hub and is supported by the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation.

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    Press Release
    Men sit at a table at a press release
    B+HR Academy launched in Mexico

    With support from the Government of Japan and in alliance with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mexico, UNDP will train representatives of more than 30 Japanese companies interested in adopting and implementing human rights due diligence practices.

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    News
    Group photo of participants of workshop on decentralizing national action plan on business and human rights
    Decentralizing Peru's national action plan on business and human rights

    UNDP has promoted dialogue among the government, business sector, indigenous peoples, labour unions and civil society through a series of workshops to decentralize Peru's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

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    News
    Launch of B+HR project in Mexico
    Business and human rights project launched in Mexico

    The Japan-supported project will guide companies in implementing human rights due diligence and support the government in developing its action plan on business and human rights

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