In 2011 the UN Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), establishing a global position on the roles of businesses and governments in helping to ensure that companies respect human rights. A rapidly evolving regulatory environment, and enhanced scrutiny and expectation are continuing to make human rights a field in which companies have mounting motivation to take meaningful action.
Business respect for human rights is one of the most significant opportunities business has to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Goals will not be achieved without the foundation of robust human rights due-diligence. Through its Human Rights project, WBCSD is working to inspire and support business action to address human rights issues with a view to mainstreaming corporate respect for human rights throughout the value chain.