Brussels - Professor John Ruggie, in his capacity as UN Special Representative for Business & Human Rights, provided an update on his mandate before the European Parliament on Thursday, and called on governments to develop better guidelines for the mandatory and voluntary measures that aim to protect human rights. At a hearing organized by the Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Ruggie reiterated the "protect, respect and remedy" framework which has been endorsed by the UN and is now accepted as the reference framework for business and human rights.
Speaking to policy-makers, Prof. Ruggie stressed the role of states in providing the right incentives to business to respect human rights, reminding them that it was a misconception to believe that companies invariably prefer state inaction to action. He highlighted the need to move beyond the stale debate over the merits of mandatory versus voluntary measures for corporate responsibility, as "even within the realm of voluntary approaches, public authorities have roles that are essential to making voluntarism work".
In highlighting the challenges posed for businesses operating in states where local laws directly conflict with international human rights norms, particularly with regards to gender equality, freedom of expression, freedom of association or the right to privacy, Ruggie called for greater collective action, to be encouraged and facilitated by states and other public authorities.
Professor Ruggie also took the opportunity of this visit to meet with the various Directorate Generals of the European Commission interested in corporate social responsibility.
Note: The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the European Union. It drafts numerous laws, directives and regulations that affect the lives of all EU citizens. The Subcommittee on Human Rights is a subcommittee of Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Professor Ruggie's Remarks Available Here
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