Media Advisory: BSR, UN Global Compact Roundtable on Business and Human Rights, April 29 in New York

San Francisco, April 17, 2013 /3BL Media/ - BSR and the UN Global Compact are holding an invitation-only discussion to examine how U.S. companies are implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The event takes place April 29 at the UN Secretariat Building in New York.

Moderated by Christine Bader, BSR’s Human Rights Advisor and former Advisor to the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie, the event will examine opportunities and challenges encountered by U.S. companies implementing the Guiding Principles at home and abroad. It will also provide a forum for companies to inform the UN working group on business and human rights—whose representatives will participate in the discussion—for the final 18 months of its mandate.

Ever since June 2011, when the UN adopted the Guiding Principles, global companies have been charged with the mandate to “know and show” that they do not infringe on human rights through their operations or business relationships.

A key part of demonstrating that due diligence is for companies to conduct a human rights impact assessment to help detect issues before they become major problems. BSR’s recent report, “Conducting an Effective Human Rights Impact Assessment,” offers guidance on how to do this:

• Eight guidelines for companies to customize an impact assessment for their unique risk profile and operating context.
• Overview of the four levels of conducting an assessment, including at the corporate, country, site-, or product-specific level.
• Case studies of BSR’s work on human rights with HP, Microsoft, a telecommunications company proposing work in Myanmar, and more.
• Answers to commonly asked questions about human rights issues, such as how impact assessments can address cases of conflict between local law and international human rights standards.

To arrange an interview with BSR Human Rights Director Faris Natour or Human Rights Advisor Christine Bader, contact Eva Dienel: edienel@bsr.org; +1 415 984 3233.

BSR works with its global network of nearly 300 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR’s more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.