DK-E and CC

2. The State Duty to Protect Human Rights

2.3 Actions Taken

Protection of human rights through state regulation and policy [page 12]

Denmark works to ensure that companies involved in Danish development cooperation respect human rights and act responsibly within the areas of … environment … within the framework of ILO conventions, UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises and work towards implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Protection of human rights in the business sphere in Danish legislation

…the Working Environment Act contributes to protecting the right to a safe and healthy working environment, the act protects, among other things, individuals against adverse impacts on health due to environmental pollution from business sources and contributes to protecting the right to the highest attainable standard of health through regulating access to health services.

Providing effective guidance on how to respect human rights [page 13]

…To ensure that companies have the right tools and the necessary guidance to handle the new due diligence requirements, the Government has updated the existing web tool, the CSR Compass and the Global Compact Self-Assessment Tool in accordance with the due diligence requirements of the UNGPs. ..The revised Global Compact Self-Assessment Tool works as a Self-Assessment guide to a CSR due diligence going through a questionnaire covering aspects of human rights,.. environment… and including a template for a follow up action plan.

Annex 1: Overview of the implementation of the state duty to protect

GP1 State Duty to Protect

Initiatives taken or planned as a dedicated measure to implement the UNGPs (after the UN ratification of the Guiding Principles) [page 24]

In 2011 the Danish government published it second national action plan for CSR “Responsible Growth” 2012–2015. The national action plan contains several initiatives which translate the UNGPs into practice, among other: …A reporting requirement on human rights and climate

GP3c State Duty to Protect

Initiatives taken or planned as a dedicated measure to implement the UNGPs (after the UN ratification of the Guiding Principles) [page 26]

Companies involved under Danida Business Partnerships are required and guided to undertake a CSR due diligence covering human rights,… environment…and to follow-up with an action plan in order to mitigate adverse impacts of business activities on employees and society at large.