Document - The UN Human Rights Norms For Business: Towards Legal Accountability

Human rights organizations have addressed concerns to businesses for a number of

years. Recognizing that economic globalization has expanded the reach of corporate

power, advocates have struggled to ensure that companies, no less than other significant

actors, are brought within the framework of international human rights rules. A

significant step in this direction was taken in August 2003 by the UN Sub-Commission

on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights when it approved the UN Norms on

the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with

Regard to Human Rights.

This bookletprovides an introduction to the UN Human Rights Norms for Business. It

answers a number of questions about the UN Norms and their legal status, and includes

an overview of their development, background on the drafting process, and a description

of the content and legal status of the UN Norms. The text of the UN Norms and their

Commentary are reproduced on pages 20-35.

In Amnesty International’s view, governments, advocates and companies should support

the UN Human Rights Norms for Business as offering an authoritative and

comprehensive statement of the responsibilities of companies in relation to human rights.

The UN Norms provide clarity and credibility amidst many competing voluntary codes

that too often lack international legitimacy, and provide far less detail on human rights

issues. AI supports efforts to strengthen the legal basis for the UN Norms, and calls on

governments, companies and advocates to disseminate and apply the UN Norms.

The booklet is available in PDF format in English, French, and Spanish.