Earlier today, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of Harvard Kennedy School Professor John Ruggie (left) as the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The Council's Resolution welcomes the reports that Ruggie and his team have submitted over the term of the last three years, including the most recent and final Report, Protect, Respect and Remedy: A Framework for Business and Human Rights. Today's Resolution provides support for promotion and operationalization of the framework. (photo credit)Among the specific requests of today's Resolution, Ruggie has been asked to:
► provide concrete and practical recommendations on the State duty to protect against abuses by, or involving, business enterprises;
► elaborate even further on the scope of corporate responsibility to respect human rights;
► make recommendations regarding effective remedies, wherever they may be available; and
► integrate a gender perspective throughout his work and give special attention to vulnerable populations.
IntLawGrrls contributors, including Naomi Norberg and I, have commented on the Report and other aspects of Ruggie's work, here and here. Additionally, I prepared an ASIL Insight on the Report, which was published today. Part of what I say there is that Ruggie's Report provides a useful roadmap of the often fragmented efforts at addressing business and human rights, and provides a common set of goals for all stakeholders to this issue. Today's renewal of his mandate opens the door for Ruggie's governance approach to take on practical import and make a significant impact on the current relationship of business vis-à-vis human rights.
