The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (GPs BHR) state that governments have the duty to protect human rights, companies have a responsibility to respect rights, and both governments and companies must work to provide a remedy when violations occur. This is known as the “Protect, Respect, and Remedy” framework.
As a follow-up of the adoption by the UN of the GPs BHR, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is developing a National Plan on Business and Human Rights, and seeked consultation with interested individuals and groups, both Irish and international.
In the past few weeks many NGOs contributed to this consultation. ATD made a submission focusing on the consistency of the plan to be designed with the UN Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.
This work builds on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade NGO Forum on Business and Human Rights, which took place in Dublin in November 2014. At the Forum, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, said: “It is important for Ireland’s standing internationally and the reputation of Irish companies that we respond to the call from the UN Human Rights Council and the European Union to develop a national plan on business and human rights which will provide Irish companies with guidance on how to ensure respect for international human rights principles in their activities.”
