Human Rights Guidance Tool for the Financial Sector
Resources

Information by Sector

Agriculture and fisheries

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Agriculture_Fisheries_amended180806.pdf

Information on the agriculture and fisheries sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Sectors/Agriculturefoodbeveragetobaccofishing

A paper on agriculture and child labour worldwide from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation: http://www.fao.org/childlabouragriculture/en/

Information on children who work in the agriculture industry, provided by the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), an ILO programme: http://www.ilo.org/ipec/areas/Agriculture/lang--en/index.htm

A code of practice to raise awareness of the hazards and risks associated with agriculture and promote their effective management and control: http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/standards-and-instruments/codes/WCMS_161135/lang--en/index.htm

Fairtrade International: a global organisation working to secure a better deal for farmers and workers: http://www.fairtrade.net/

The Better Cotton Initiative: a voluntary program to enable farmers to grow cotton in a way that is more economical and healthier for farming communities and the environment: http://bettercotton.org/

ECLT Foundation: a multi-stakeholder initiative of trade unions, growers and companies, with the ILO as an advisor, working to eliminate child labour in the tobacco growing sector. http://www.eclt.org/

The Sustainable Seafood Coalition is a cross-industry group in the UK to tackle seafood sustainability using their influence as seafood businesses: http://sustainableseafoodcoalition.org/

UN-Indigenous peoples' Partnership (UNIPP): the first global UN inter-agency initiative to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IPeoples/Pages/UNIPPartnership.aspx

Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Chems_Pharms_amended180806.pdf

Information on the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Sectors/Chemical

Responsible Care, the chemical industry's global voluntary initiative under which companies work together to improve their health, safety and environmental performance, and to communicate with stakeholders about their products and processes: https://www.icca-chem.org/responsible-care/

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has produced Reporting Guidelines and Guidelines to promote Best Practice in the supply chain: http://www.cefic.org/newsroom/Resources/Guidelines/

ILO Chemicals Convention, 1990: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO:12100:P12100_ILO_CODE:C170

IFPMA represents the research based pharmaceutical industry, including the biotechnology and vaccine sectors. It has a code of practice for members: https://www.ifpma.org/resource-centre/ifpma-code-of-practice-2019/

Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in relation to Access to Medicines (UN): https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Human+Rights+Guidelines+for+Pharmaceutical+Companies+in+relation+to+Access+to+Medicines%E2%80%99

Forestry

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Forestry_Logging_amended180806.pdf

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organisation promoting responsible stewardship of the world's forests: https://ic.fsc.org/

Health & Safety in the Forestry Sector: http://www.ukfisa.com/assets/files/safetyLibrary/MHSF-2014.pdf

Information on the FLEGT initiative (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade): http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/flegt.htm

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard (SFIS): http://www.sfiprogram.org/sfi-standard/

Forest Peoples Programme was founded in 1990 in response to the forest crisis, to support indigenous forest peoples' struggles to defend their lands and livelihoods: http://www.forestpeoples.org/

The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is the world's largest forest certification system: http://www.pefc.org/

Global Witness seeks to break the links between the exploitation of natural resources, land rights and conflicts: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/

Indigenous Peoples and Forests, resources by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/meetings-and-workshops/egm-indigenous-peoples-and-forests.html

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf

General Manufacturing

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/General_Manufacturing_amended180806.pdf

Information on the manufacturing sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Sectors/Manufacturing

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, NGOs and trade union organisations. It exists to promote and improve the implementation of corporate codes of practice which cover supply chain working conditions: http://www.ethicaltrade.org/

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a coalition of industry, civil society organisations, and colleges and universities which aims to protect workers' rights and improve working conditions by promoting adherence to international labour standards: http://www.fairlabor.org/

Social Accountability International aims to advance the human rights of workers around the world. SAI's social standard, SA8000, is designed to ensure compliance with the highest ethical sourcing standards: http://www.sa-intl.org/

The Clean Clothes Campaign is dedicated to improving working conditions and supporting the empowerment of workers in the global garment and sportswear industries: http://www.cleanclothes.org/

Infrastructure

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Infrastructure_amended180806.pdf

Information on the infrastructure sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/search-results?langcode=en&keywords=infrastructure&pagenum=0

Is the global drive for infrastructure development a menace to human rights? This blog from Social Watch explores the issues: http://www.socialwatch.org/node/16628

Infrastructure projects are sites of intense human rights struggles. This book explores how the issues can be handled in different contexts and proposes an international solution: http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/law/human-rights/law-infrastructure-and-human-rights

ILO Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988: http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/standards-and-instruments/codes/WCMS_107826/lang--en/index.htm

In the Amazon region of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Amazon Watch is working directly with indigenous communities to build local capacity and advance the long-term protection of their lands: https://amazonwatch.org/work

The Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project aims to reduce poverty and raise incomes in Bangladesh by fostering economic growth, governance and gender equity: http://www.adb.org/projects/40515-013/details

Mining and metals

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Mining_Metals_ESRBN_amended180806.pdf

Information on the mining and metals sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/search-results?langcode=en&keywords=mining+metals&pagenum=0

Mining Watch, a Canadian organisation aiming to change public policy and mining practices to ensure the health of individuals, communities and ecosystems: http://www.miningwatch.ca

Global Reporting Initiative, Sector Supplements Guidelines, Mining and Metals Industry Guidance: https://www.globalreporting.org/information/sector-guidance/sector-guidance/mining-and-metals/Pages/default.aspx

The Responsible Jewellery Council is a standard-setting and certification organisation that spans the jewellery supply chain: http://www.responsiblejewellery.com/

Global Witness seeks to break the links between the exploitation of natural resources, and conflict and corruption: https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/conflict-minerals/

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) supports openness, improved governance and accountable management of revenues from natural resources: https://eiti.org/

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights were developed to guide companies in balancing the need for safety and security while respecting human rights: http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/

The Kimberley Process is a government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments: http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/

The International Council on Mining and Metals is an industry body which has agreed a Sustainable Development Framework (commitments, public reporting and independent assurance): http://www.icmm.com/website/publications/pdfs/commitments/revised-2015_icmm-principles.pdf

Forest Peoples Programme supports indigenous forest peoples to defend their lands and livelihoods from developments (including dams, mines, oil wells and gas pipelines) that force them out of their homes: http://www.forestpeoples.org/

The Principles for Responsible Investment provide investors with guidance tools to promote human rights in the extractive industry: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/human-rights-and-the-extractives-industry/3425.article

Oil and Gas

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Oil_Gas_amended180806.pdf

Information on the oil and gas sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/sectors/natural-resources/oil-gas-coal

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) supports openness, improved governance and accountable management of revenues from natural resources: https://eiti.org/

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights were developed to guide companies in balancing the need for safety and security while respecting human rights: http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/

IPIECA is the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues. It has produced a fact sheet and other resources on human rights: http://www.ipieca.org/our-work/social/human-rights/

The Principles for Responsible Investment provide investors with guidance tools to promote human rights in the extractives’ industry: https://www.unpri.org/social-issues/human-rights-and-the-extractives-industry/3425.article

Power Generation

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Power_Generation_amended180806.pdf

Information on the power generation sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/sectors/utilities

Global Reporting Initiative, Sector Supplements Guidelines, Electric Utilities Industry Guidance: https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/sector-guidance/sector-guidance/electric-utilities/Pages/default.aspx

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: signatories include a number of power generating companies; the Principles guide companies in balancing the need for safety and security while respecting human rights: http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/

Forest Peoples Programme: This NGO supports indigenous people to protect their ways of life and traditional knowledge from developments (including dams, mines, oil wells and gas pipelines) that often force them out of their homes: http://www.forestpeoples.org/

Services

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Service_Industry_amended180806.pdf

Information on the services sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/sectors/services

The World Indigenous Tourism Alliance is a global network of indigenous and non-indigenous communities that seek to give practical expression to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through tourism: http://www.winta.org/

The International Tourism Partnership is made up of international hotel companies and focuses on environmental and social responsibility in the industry. They have produced a position statement on human trafficking: https://www.tourismpartnership.org/human-rights/

The International Telecommunication Union, UNICEF and the Children Online Protection initiative have produced guidelines to strengthen online protection for children: http://www.itu.int/en/cop/Documents/bD_Broch_INDUSTRY0809.pdf

A group of African NGOs has published the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms to promote human rights standards and principles of openness in internet policy formulation and implementation: http://africaninternetrights.org/articles/

The International Labour Conference of the ILO has adopted a convention on the rights of domestic workers around the world: http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/100thSession/media-centre/press-releases/WCMS_157891/lang--en/index.htm

Utilities and waste management

UNEP FI Environmental and Social Risk Briefing: http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/toolkit/Utilities_Waste_Management_amended180806.pdf

Information on the utilities sector, from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: http://business-humanrights.org/en/sectors/utilities

OECD work on sustainable materials and waste management: http://www.oecd.org/env/waste/OECD%20Work%20on%20SMM_update%2011-02-2013.pdf

Young Power in Social Action works to improve the conditions in shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh, to ensure that the rights of workers are respected and that shipbreaking is conducted in a safe and environmentally friendly way: http://www.shipbreakingbd.info/

The UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission has carried out a review of financial inclusion in relation to utilities: http://www.ippr.org/publications/review-of-access-to-essential-services-financial-inclusion-and-utilities

 

December 2014     United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative