Our Mission: The Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) is dedicated to being a global centre of excellence and expertise on the relationship between business and internationally proclaimed human rights standards...more

IHRB Programmes: Capacity and Accountability

United Nations General Assembly

IHRB engages directly in efforts to expand the scope for the UN human rights system to address specific corporate related human rights challenges.

Supporting international human rights mechanisms in addressing corporate accountability

If Business and Human Rights is to become a permanent facet of United Nations activities, increased efforts must be dedicated to supporting relevant UN human rights mechanisms and processes seeking to address the roles and responsibilities of business and other non-state actors.

The Institute for Human Rights and Business engages directly in efforts to expand the scope for the UN human rights system to address specific corporate related human rights challenges. Our work in this area inlcudes:

Contributing to UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review Process

The Institute contributes civil society submissions on the performance of governments on private sector related issues as part of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Period Review (UPR) process. These submissions create opportunities for dialogue with governments, civil society and business and encourages states as to include business related issues in their official reports and discussions during the UPR review process.

Assisting UN thematic experts and rapporteurs

The Institute has worked closely with select UN human rights mandates including Professor John Ruggie, the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights and Catarina de Albuquerque, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights, Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, who has focused on the role of business in water management with specific reference to the right to water.

Advancing the work of national human rights institutions

The Institute has collaborated with select National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) such as those from Kenya and South Africa on issues of common interest and is developing further work to support NHRIs committed to advancing their own mandates with respect to private sector related issue.