ACTIVITIES
We organize our work within two key work streams: DEMONSTRATING PRACTICE and BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS LEARNING.
WORK STREAM ONE: DEMONSTRATING PRACTICE
GBI member companies believe that Demonstrating Practice is an important part of leadership in the area of human rights and business. We recognize that moving from “naming and shaming” to “knowing and showing” requires business to do the latter more effectively.
As a group of companies from diverse sectors and geographies, GBI members also hope that demonstrating practice and sharing learning in relation to corporate respect for human rights will support other leading businesses to progress on their own journeys to respect rights.
Our work in this area is currently being defined but will cover:
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Application of the UN Protect, Respect, Remedy Framework and Guiding Principles
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Exploring integration of human rights considerations in contractual relationships e.g. Joint Ventures, Mergers and Acquisitions, PPPs and in the value chain (customers and suppliers)
At the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in June 2010, we launched the Business and Human Rights Dialogues. The dialogues are a series of interviews which focus on how to perform various aspects of human rights due diligence in practice. They are designed to be of practical assistance to other business leaders from across sectors and geographies. Some of the themes to be covered include: leadership on human rights; creation/integration of a human rights policy; risk assessment; reporting and monitoring.
Available dialogues are:
BOB CORCORAN
>>VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP, THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
>> AND PRESIDENT OF THE GE FOUNDATION
>>Discussing getting started and showing leadership in integrating human rights into >>business management
ALEXANDRA GUAQUETA
>>HEAD OF SOCIAL STANDARDS AND INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
>>Discussing a rights-based approach: clarity, culture change and daily realities
RON POPPER
>>DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, ABB
>>Discussing the benefits of conducting thorough human rights due diligence
ED POTTER
>>DIRECTOR, GLOBAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS, THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
>>Discussing the journey to further human rights within the company and the importance of >>external engagement
WORK STREAM TWO : BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS-LEARNING
Business leaders in all regions and countries have practices and experiences to share with regards respect for human rights. Exchanging challenges, practices and opportunities in relation to human rights among senior business leaders is a necessary step in the realization of a level-playing field.
As such, GBI works with local human rights organizations, CSR experts, business associations and UN Global Compact Networks to convene business-to-business learning sessions.
2009/10 Sessions (reports below)
- Delhi Roundtable November 2009
- Colombia Roundtable May 2010
- Leaders Breakfast June 2010
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NEXT SESSION
South East Asia Roundtable, November 2011