Global Compact Releases Draft Guide for Business on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Calls for Comments
Read more
New York, United States of America
(10 December 2012, New York) – On International Human Rights Day, the UN Global Compact has released for comment the exposure draft of the Business Reference Guide on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Development of the Guide was initiated by a taskforce of Global Compact LEAD companies that wanted to increase their and other companies' understanding of the rights in the UNDRIP and what to do to respect and support them.
“It is fitting to release this exposure draft on International Human Rights Day, of which this year’s theme is inclusion and the right to participate in public life," said Ursula Wynhoven, General Counsel, UN Global Compact Office, who also leads the office's human rights and business workstream. "The document has already benefited from several rounds of input from indigenous peoples, UN entities and businesses on earlier versions. We look forward to receiving comments on this exposure draft."
The Guide illustrates how indigenous peoples' rights may be impacted positively or negatively by businesses and provides practical suggestions for business action. Part I outlines key actions for businesses to take in relation to indigenous peoples’ rights, including making a policy commitment; due diligence; consultation and consent-seeking; and having an effective grievance mechanism. Part II illustrates each right in the UNDRIP, suggests practical actions that businesses should take to respect each right and could take voluntarily to support each right, and gives illustrative examples.
The exposure draft will be open for public consultation and comment until 1 June 2013.
- The exposure draft and further information about the project and how to submit comments are available here.
- Learn more about Global Compact LEAD.
Contacts
Alice Cope
Policy & Sustainability Advisor
UN Global Compact
cope@un.org
Michelle Lau
Project Manager, Global Compact LEAD
UN Global Compact
laum@un.org