‘Edinburgh Declaration’ Agreed by National Human Rights Institutions

Human rights institutions from around the world have called for action on corporate abuse of human rights to be stepped up.

Representatives from around 80 countries attending the 10th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions at the Scottish Parliament this weekend made the call in the ‘Edinburgh Declaration’. The conference is the first official United Nations event to be held in Scotland.

Rosslyn Noonan, Chair of the International Coordinating Committee, and Chair of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, said:

“We are at a tipping point. Successful businesses are crucial for development, but recognition and protection of human rights has not kept pace with the power and influence of globalised economies.

“Over the past three days we’ve come together as national human rights institutions to agree in the Declaration that more must be done to support businesses to understand their responsibilities, work we will be taking forwards collectively across the world.

“More than 350 people have attended the conference as delegates, observers, campaigners and business representatives – on their behalf I would like to thank the Scottish Human Rights Commission for driving the business and human rights agenda forward at such a crucial time.”

The Declaration calls for more national and international monitoring of businesses’ compliance with human rights law, that advice should be given to companies, governments, campaigners and individuals about corporate responsibility, and that institutions themselves have an important role to play in supporting companies and victims of potential human rights violations. Read the Edinburgh Declaration in full.

Professor Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said: “The Edinburgh Declaration gives organisations like ours a road map on business and human rights at a time when private companies have increasing influence in so many parts of our lives.

“Commissioners from countries including Venezuela, India, France, Bangladesh and Australia have agreed that we can support businesses understand their responsibilities, while helping individuals claim their rights. The end of the conference is the start of all the national institutions putting renewed emphasis on what they can do in their own countries on this vital issue.”

On Friday Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Chair of the Business and Human Rights Initiative, gave keynote speeches to delegates at the Scottish Parliament.

ENDS

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