UNGPs at 15: out of touch or more important than ever?

This article was first published on Financial Times Sustainable Views

June 2026 marks the 15th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the first global attempt to formalise businesses’ duty to respect human rights.

Under the stewardship of John Ruggie, the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights from 2005-2011, the principles were developed to address a growing “governance gap” in which human rights abuses by multinational businesses went unchecked. By making clear the distinct responsibilities of governments and companies, the principles ended any ambiguity about who was responsible for upholding human rights. 

Fifteen years on, the principles feature in boardroom discussions, are embedded in investor frameworks, and form the foundations of supply chain due diligence rules. But responsible businesses face new challenges that the architects of the UNGPs might not have imagined: fracturing multilateralism, changing climates, more armed conflict, and the rapid rise of AI. 

Some will question the UNGPs’ relevance. But it will not be surprising that many of us working in business and human rights argue that these principles are more important now than ever. In fact, the UNGPs were designed for moments of global turmoil and uncertainty.

The UNGPs in a changing world 

The past 15 years have seen the number of migrant workers worldwide increase. Today, one in 20 workers is a migrant, making them a vital part of the global workforce and economy. But stuck between the jurisdictions of multiple countries, often operating within complex international supply chains and in low-paid or high-debt jobs, these workers fall in precisely the type of governance gap Ruggie sought to address.

The UNGPs are clear: businesses must carry out due diligence to ensure rights are respected across the full breadth and depth of a company’s global supply chain.

Another area of predicted but unprecedented change since 2011 is our warming planet. With renewables overtaking coal as the world’s leading source of electricity in 2025, according to Ember, it is no longer a question of “whether” we transition to a low-carbon economy. For businesses considering “how” to decarbonise in a way that does not harm people, the UNGPs provide a recognised framework for navigating just transitions. 

New frontiers have emerged too. The extraordinary rise of AI is reshaping business and everyday working lives, with profound implications for power and inequality. From workers in the global south training machine learning models, to AI infrastructure — spanning data centres, their supply chains, and the land, water and labour they depend on — AI poses serious and largely unaddressed human rights risks.

As governments around the world recognise the need to “control” AI development — as we have done with other industries such as pharmaceuticals and arms — the UNGPs provide an anchor to shape effective regulation.

Indeed, in many countries and regions, sustainability regulations and obligations are now modelled on the UNGPs, most notably the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the upcoming EU Forced Labour Regulation. 

A dependable lodestar

The human rights challenges these phenomena present are not new.

Companies in sectors such as extractives have been confronting issues related to labour rights, security and land rights for many years. They have discovered, often the hard way, that respecting human rights through embedding the UNGPs is fundamental to a company’s ability to raise capital, reduce risks of community conflict, attract skilled workers and operate effectively. Much can be learnt from their experiences.

The UNGPs are not perfect and issues remain, but we have come a long way in 15 years. Today, the question is not whether corporations bear human rights responsibilities, but how those responsibilities are defined and enforced for the challenges of our time, and what remedies are available for communities and workers affected.

As political or regulatory changes continue to send mixed signals on sustainability, businesses can turn to the UNGPs, knowing that its tenants will outlive the turmoil. The UNGPs are not out of touch: they were designed precisely for moments like this.