First ever NI Business and Human Rights Report Launched
NI BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS INDEX - Assessing the corporate implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Northern Ireland.
This week marked the launch of the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Index Report, which maps the current landscape of business and human rights in the region. For the first time, the report provides an assessment of corporate implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in the region. The project was a collaboration between Dr. Marisa McVey and Anna Montgomery of Queen’s University Belfast School of Law, and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, with support from the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI).
While states hold the primary responsibility under international law for preventing human rights violations within their territories, there is growing recognition of the significant impact that business operations can have on these rights. The UNGPs, adopted by the United Nations in 2011, serve as the internationally recognized framework outlining both state obligations and corporate responsibilities regarding human rights. The adoption of the UNGPs signifies a shift from the broader concept of corporate social responsibility towards more authoritative human rights guidelines and instruments. Since their adoption, there has been a surge in efforts to regulate corporate human rights conduct, along with increased accountability and remedy mechanisms, particularly through mandatory human rights due diligence initiatives across Europe and beyond.
Despite these advancements, much remains to be accomplished at the local level. The findings from the Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Index reveal that none of the region’s top companies demonstrate full compliance with the basic expectations outlined in the UNGPs. Moreover, significant disparities exist within the sample, particularly between multinational companies with subsidiaries in Northern Ireland and non-subsidiary firms based in the region. Nonetheless, there are indications that some companies are increasingly recognising their corporate responsibility to respect human rights.
The report offers a robust evidence base on how companies in Northern Ireland understand and implement human rights policies and practices across their operations. It highlights gaps in compliance, identifies areas where targeted support is required, and provides clear guidance for policymakers and regulators. Moving forward, the focus should be on ensuring that Northern Ireland companies fully align with the UNGPs by embedding locally tailored approaches to business and human rights. This will require not only appropriate support and guidance for businesses on their responsibility to respect human rights but also a stronger regulatory environment both regionally and nationally.
