IFC Leads Development of a Guide to Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management (HRIA)
Human rights have traditionally been the sole responsibility of government, but increasingly businesses are expected to carry out their operations in a socially responsible manner, which includes respecting human rights.
Following the release of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, Pr. John Ruggie's last report, human rights impact assessment are now considered as an important part of a company's due diligence to understand how their activities may affect human rights. In response to companies' lack of technical skills in this area, IFC and the International Business Leader's Forum (IBLF), in close collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), developed the Guide to Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management (HRIA).
IFC's approach to sustainability is rooted in a business case that includes risk management and market based opportunities. On the risk management side, IFC is addressing human rights concerns through its Performance Standards, including those dealing with the process of establishing a grievance mechanism, core labor standards and protection of impacted communities. The Guide represents an additional tool for IFC clients and the wider private sector to examine human rights concerns and how to address them.
The draft version was published in June 2007 to collect comments from stakeholders. The Guide is still a work in progress and is now being road-tested with companies from various sectors to help them implement its methodology and the recommendations effectively and comprehensively.
The experience gained from the road-testing and integration processes will be used to refine the methodology and content of the Guide. A revised version of the guide will be published in early 2010.
In addition, companies that conduct an environmental and social impact assessment now have the opportunity to embark upon an Integration Process to ensure full capturing of the human rights risks associated with their project's impact.
For information on the current road-testing and/or Integration processes, or to receive a hard copy of the Guide, please contact:
