National baseline assessment on Business and Human Rights published

Date: 1st November 2016
Category: General principles

The national baseline assessment of the current state of affairs in Scotland in relation to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights has now been published on the SNAP website, along with an invitation to provide comments and responses through a survey.

In 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The Principles are based on a framework of state responsibility to protect human rights; business responsibility to respect human rights; and the requirement for remedy for human rights abuses. Several countries, including the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands, have published implementation plans to give effect to the UNGPs, and Scotland's National Action Plan for Human Rights contains a commitment to develop one.

In order to establish a robust evidence base to underpin an action plan for Scotland, the SNAP Better World Action Group commissioned a national baseline assessment using a tool designed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable. The baseline assessment comprised desk-based research, consultation with businesses and civil society organisations, and engagement with experts in the field of business and human rights.

The report states concerns from stakeholders about the widespread impact of business and corporations on the rights of children, from marketing and advertising, through to ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to family-friendly working conditions.

• Read the executive summary here.
• Read the findings and recommendations here.

In addition, the Better World Action Group invite you to contribute to the development of a national action plan to implement the UNGPs in Scotland by responding to the following questions:

1. Do you consider any of the findings of the national baseline assessment to be particularly important? If so, why?
2. Do you disagree with any of the evidence or recommendations contained in the national baseline assessment? If so, why?
3. Do you have any other comments on the national baseline assessment?
4. Do you have suggestions for the process by which a national action plan for Scotland should be developed?
5. In what ways could you or your organisation participate in or contribute to the process of developing a national action plan for Scotland?

• Please provide your answers using this online survey by 10 December 2016.