The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the authoritative global standard outlining the expectations of States and businesses in preventing and addressing business-related human rights abuses. The UNGPs were unanimously adopted by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in 2011.
The Australian Government co-sponsored the resolution that adopted the UNGPs and has supported the UNGPs since their inception. Globally there is growing evidence of the uptake of the UNGPs by business and industry associations and multi-stakeholder initiatives. We are also seeing the integration of the UNGPs into a wide range of standards, laws and policies.
June 2021 marked the 10-year anniversary of the introduction of the UNGPs. To reflect on this milestone, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Human Rights Institute, UNSW Sydney, have collaborated on the below report, which considers progress and identifies gaps around the implementation of the UNGPs in Australia.
Authors
Lauren Zanetti
Sarah McGrath
Professor Justine Nolan.
The Australian Human Rights Commission also wishes to acknowledge the contribution of the following staff and Commissioners: Kate Griffiths, Divashna Govender, Nick Devereaux, Libby Gun, Natasha de Silva, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM and June Oscar AO.