Human rights due diligence isn’t just a legal requirement, but is also good for business
Based on principles like dignity, fairness, respect and equality, human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone, regardless of who you are, where you live and how you choose to live your life.
Human rights issues, often referred to in the built environment as workers’ rights or labour rights, are becoming an increasingly important consideration for all organisations and their supply chains. This is being driven by investors, due diligence legislation worldwide, stakeholders, clients and increased evidence highlighting the business benefits of being a responsible employer.
The built environment is known for its increasingly complex supply chains, the widespread use of sub-contractors, precarious contracts and part reliance on unskilled, migrant or temporary workers, both in the UK and overseas. These conditions create acute risks of human rights violations with issues such as modern slavery, prevalent, even in developed countries. Through our procurement practices we can contribute to and / or perpetuate the issues that exist in the countries we buy from / in our supply chains but mapping our supply chains and achieving supply chain transparency is a challenge.
Human Rights Explained
Watch this 2 minute animation explaining the principles and history of human rights, from their creation to application at country level.
Human Rights In 2 Minutes
Video
5 minutes
Modern Slavery
In Broad Daylight: Uyghur Forced Labour and Global Solar Supply Chains
Web link
Modern Slavery
Ethical Trading Initiative Human Rights Due Diligence Framework
Document / Presentation
Training and Skills
A Just Transition Explained
Video
Modern Slavery
Corporate Human Rights Benchmark
Web link
Sustainable Procurement
Human Rights Watch World Report 2021
Document / Presentation
Training and Skills
World Benchmarking Alliance Just Transition Methodology
Document / Presentation
Modern Slavery
The Human Rights Act
Web link
“Responsible businesses have better visibility of their supply chains; they are more productive because workers are more engaged, better trained and happier at work, and their reputation and credibility is far better with customers, investors and suppliers.”Human Rights Due Diligence Framework, Ethical Trading Initiative
