Supply Chain and Human Rights
Sustainable Supply Chain, Business & Human Rights
Project manager: Susan Njoroge (CSR Europe)
Project leaders: Hitachi, HP, ArcelorMittal, Volkswagen, econsense
Challenge
Key EU and international frameworks have prioritized human rights and responsible supply chains for businesses. These topics are equally relevant to business beyond a policy perspective, both from a risk and opportunity perspective - reducing operational risks and costs, enhancing productivity and improving working conditions, which can improve quality, among others. Both CSR topics share synergies and impact most multinational companies. Yet, learning, exchange and collaboration among companies on these topics remain limited.
Objectives
To optimize the scope of this project, a two-workstream approach will be followed.
1. Sustainable Supply Chain:
- Promote best practice exchange, raise awareness and identify solutions to key hot topics on sustainable supply chain issues
- Work with sector organizations to support sector-specific CSR issues in supply chain practices
2. Business and Human Rights:
- Create understanding of business implications of key international and EU frameworks
- Support companies in implementing the UN Guiding Principles
- Foster dialogue between business and stakeholders to raise understanding on the business approach to human rights
Main activities
- Webinar series on critical supply chain hot topics in an international context
- Collaboration with sectors implementing sector-specific CSR issues in the supply chain
- BHR workshops addressing the implications of BHR frameworks on business and identifying practical tools based on good practices to implement human rights in operations
- Business input into EC consultations on BHR
Deliverables
- Best practice sharing and UN Global Compact and CSR Europe global sustainable supply chain portal
- BHR Manual that support the implementation of key human rights aspects for business through best practice examples and practical tools
- Issue briefs based on sustainable supply chain webinars and international and EU frameworks on BHR: (1) UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
Upcoming dates for your diaries
- Workshop on Dilemmas/ Grievance Mechanisms into Business Operations, 28th June 2012 (Berlin)
- CSR Europe Network BHR Webinar: Test direction of outputs, 13th September 2012
- Webinar on Supply chain monitoring/ auditing in tier 2,3 - Bridging the gaps between tiers 1-3, 13th October 2012
- BHR Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: Feedback on Project outputs, 15th November 2012
- Webinar on Future Directions of sustainable supply chains, 4th December 2012
Past Activities
Webinar on Addressing Conflict Minerals in Global Supply Chain, 10th May 2012
Workshop on Raising Awareness and Capacity Building, 28th March 2012
Webinar on Realizing Children's Rights in Global Supply Chain, 19th March 2012
Project Webinar on Supply Chain and Human Rights, 27th October 2011
UNGC/CSR Europe supply chain webinar, 29th November 2011
Kick-off Workshop addressing the implications of BHR frameworks on business, 2nd December 2011
- Agenda
- Minutes
- ArcelorMittal Human Rights Presentation
- Context Setting CSR Europe
- Cross-company perspectives – UNGC
- Hitachi
- International perspectives
- Cross company BSCI
- RSCM UNGPs
For more information, please contact Susan Njoroge (sn@csreuorpe.org)
