(Human Rights)
Social Responsibility (101SRE306)
ID:
Table of Contents
Human Rights in Corporate Social Responsibility
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How can companies decide what Human Rights to be concerned about?
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How can the Due Diligence process be made to work for companies?
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References
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Human Rights in Corporate Social Responsibility
A major but highly underestimated topic related to the field of Corporate Social Responsibility in today’s world is the issue of Human Rights. Human rights are generally defined as the ‘inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he or she is a human being.’ CITATION USD12 \l 1033 Some of these rights include the rights of freedom of expression and movement, equality before the law, the rights to live, education, religion and the right to own property. In the corporate world, these rights might generally mean the right to safety and on the job benefits, accident insurance and the right not to be unlawfully dismissed.
The issue of Human Rights is extremely important in the modern world that we live in since when a better understanding of human rights is developed among the population, it will be easier to promote justice and the well-being of society. For instance, on June 2011 , the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed a set of Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 These principles act as guidelines when it comes to protection of human rights and the corporate duty to respect human rights and the need for access to effective remedy mechanisms in case, abuse of these inalienable rights do occur. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 The government of every country must also take a harsh stand against those corporate manipulators who do allow such horrific human rights abuses to occur and to punish them in a manner befitting the crime.
Fear of Human Rights violations strike a resounding peal in the GCC countries and especially the UAE due to the large number of emigrant workers in the nation. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 Most of the manual labors involved in government and private projects in the UAE come from nations such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and many of these laborers have no voice in the decisions their employers make for them. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 The corporate responsibility to respect human rights of the companies in charge of this labor pool means that these companies must act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the basic rights of these employees. The UAE Government has also stipulated a few important laws aimed at the welfare of these workers, some of which involve the right to a basic wage and medical leave. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 In addition to complying with these national laws, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights is the ‘BASELINE EXPECTATION’ for all companies in every situation.
Companies may also take on additional responsibilities in this regard voluntarily, and in some instances, such as when they are needed to perform important public functions, more of such expectations may be heaped upon them. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
What all the companies in the UAE and worldwide need is a reliable system in place that would enable them to comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 This should be a ‘DUE DILIGENCE’ process whereby companies can be aware of, prevent and address adverse impacts on human rights.
Some of the core elements of this process should be-
1) Have a Mandatory Human Rights Policy.
2) Regular Assessment of companywide Human Rights risks and impacts.
3) Integrate the importance of Human Rights into every function throughout the company.
4) Have an efficient and just mechanism in place to handle all grievances.
5) Track Human Rights records of the entire company as well as reporting performance in this regard. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
How can companies decide what Human Rights to be concerned about?
Most organizations work across a broad spectrum of operations as well as handle a wide range of businesses and this possesses the potential to have an impact on almost all basic human rights. This is why companies must concern themselves with preserving their nature as much as possible. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 Along with implementing the process of ‘Due Diligence’ across the organization, companies must also follow the guidelines already established in the International Bill of Human Rights by the United Nations some decades ago. This Bill stipulates the basic rights available to every human being across the planet transcending all national and regional laws. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
Another important Bill, any company interested in the welfare of their employees should look to is the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work set forth by the International Labor Organization (ILO). CITATION USD12 \l 1033
There are two major reasons why these laws continue to be important to the issue of Human Rights internationally. Firstly, the principles that the two above-mentioned laws represent are the most universally recognized standards agreed upon by the international community at large. Secondly, both of these laws are the main benchmarks against which most social organizations judge and decide the impacts of each individual company on Human Rights. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
Another hypothetical situation as mentioned earlier would be companies needing to implement additional standards according to the prevailing environment and conditions. For example, in areas torn by conflict, CITATION USD12 \l 1033 companies existing in the area should put into action the various international humanitarian laws and policies. Similarly when setting up projects that affect natives of any areas in particular, standards specific to those affected communities should be implemented. CITATION USD12 \l 1033 This can be done in order to preserve the Human Rights record integrity of the company as well as increase their popularity and general good will in the area and community in question. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
How can the Due Diligence process be made to work for companies?
The three main criteria for designing a process of ‘Due Diligence’ and tailoring it to fit a company’s specifications for protection of basic Human Rights are: CITATION USD12 \l 1033
a) The country and local environment where the company is based or its business activities conducted is important. This context can include that particular region’s commitments to Human Rights preservation and availability of resources. For example, in the UAE, a company must design a process based around the facilities provided by the government such as labor housing and transportation, ethnic frictions, such as disputes between laborers of nations known to have a hostile relationship, resources such as water and room etc. CITATION USD12 \l 1033
b) The second most important factor involves the analysis of the impact the company’s own business activities may have within that environment .In a company’s role as a producer , a service provider, employer and local industry, its very presence in the neighborhood, it is inevitably bound to change the existing conditions.
c) The third critical factor is the nature of human resources such as whether the company might be contributing to abuse of Human Rights through its activities and dealings with business partners, supply chain, Government and other organizations.
In conclusion, it is highly necessary, especially in such quickly developing nations such as the UAE, to ensure that Human Rights remain at the forefront of discussions related to Corporate Social Responsibility indefinitely. CITATION Hum07 \l 1033
References
Amnesty International. (2012). CR and the Human Rights Annual Report 2011. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from Amnesty International: http://amnesty.org/en/annual-report/2011/introduction
Amnesty International. (2012). CR and the Human Rights Annual Report 2011. Amnesty International.
Blowfield, M., & Murray, A. (2011). Corporate Responsibility. OUP UK: Oxford University Press.
Dubai FAQs. (2012). Labor Law in Dubai and the UAE. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from Dubai FAQs: http://www.dubaifaqs.com/labour-law-uae.php
DubaiFACs. (2012). United Arab Emirates (UAE). Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from DubaiFACs: http://www.dubaifaqs.com/united-arab-emirates.php
European Commission. (2012). Corporate Social Responsibility. Retrieved 06 30, 2012, from European Commisson: • http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/corporate-social-responsibility/human-rights/index_en.htm
Human Rights Watch. (2007, 01 11). Human Rights Watch Word Report 2007 (UAE). Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from Watchworld: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,HRW,,ARE,45aca2a82f,0.html
Human Rights Watch. (2011). World Report 2011: United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2011/united-arab-emirates
humanrights. (n.d.). BUCH - A Short History of African Philosophy - Hallen Barry. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from humanrights: HumanRights
Jaffee, S. (2012, 06 25). Syrian and British Youths Get Death Sentences for Dealing Marijuana in United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from AlterNet: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/991177/syrian_and_british_youths_get_death_sentences_for_dealing_marijuana_in_united_arab_emirates/
U.S. Department of State. (2012, 03 11). 2009 nHuman Rights Report: United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 07 01, 2012, from U.S. Department of State: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136082.htm
