A Guide to Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains

The Norwegian Government wishes to contribute to strengthening the role of Norwegian businesses as engines for sustainable development and poverty reduction, while at the same time supporting the efforts of the UN and the ILO to promote responsible business practices. In 2012/2013 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded the work to make a comprehensible guide on Human Rights Due Diligence, and at the same time emphasize the Governments clear expectations to Norwegian businesses. The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske, introduced the guide 24th of April 2013 at The House of Literature in Oslo.

The Norwegian Government wishes to contribute to strengthening the role of Norwegian businesses as engines for sustainable development and poverty reduction, while at the same time supporting the efforts of the UN and the ILO to promote responsible business practices. In 2012/2013 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded the work to make a comprehensible guide on Human Rights Due Diligence, and at the same time emphasize the Governments clear expectations to Norwegian businesses. The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske, introduced the guide 24th of April 2013 at The House of Literature in Oslo.

The guide "A Guide to Human Rights Due Diligence in Global Supply Chains" describes how all enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises can carry out due diligence to prevent violations of human rights. The guide is based on the requirements, standards and recommendations of the UN and the ILO and works around IEH's established five-step model.
Businesses must:

  1. be dedicated and ensure commitment
  2. asess risk and identify human rights impact
  3. integrating human rights due diligence in their core business and adapt their own purchasing practices
  4. collaborate with stakeholders on improvements
  5. and measure, report and communicate efforts and effect.

The steps overlap and must be repeated.

The guide includes examples from Norwegian companies and a variety of resources and tools to support the process. It may be helpful to read this guide in conjunction with the guide "A Practitioner’s Guide to Ethical Trade" that provides further advice and examples from companies. The Guide will be available in Norwegian within August 2013.

About IEH
IEH – Ethical Trading Initiative Norway is a multi-stakeholder initiative, represented by NGOs, Trade Unions, Businesses and the Enterprise Federation of Norway. IEH’s aim is to strengthen its members’ efforts to promote decent working and environmental conditions in their supply chains, and to strengthen support for responsible supply chain management in general. Members consist of companies, organizations and public enterprises.