United Kingdom

The UK 2013 NAP

The State’s Duty to Protect Human Rights 

The existing UK legal and policy framework

Actions taken 

(ii) sought and are committed to ensuring that in UK Government procurement human rights related matters are reflected appropriately when purchasing goods, works and services. Under the public procurement rules public bodies may exclude tenderers from bidding for a contract opportunity in certain circumstances, including where there is information showing grave misconduct by a company in the course of its business or profession. Such misconduct might arise in cases where there are breaches of human rights. In addition, UK public bodies are required to have due regard for equality-related issues in their procurement activity.

The UK 2016 updated NAP

2. The State’s Duty to Protect Human Rights

Government commitments [page 10]

18. The Government will do the following to reinforce its implementation of its commitments under Pillar 1 of the UNGPs:

(…)

(iii) Continue to ensure that UK Government procurement rules allow for human rights-related matters to be reflected in the procurement of public goods, works and services, taking into account the 2014 EU Public Procurement Directives and Crown Commercial Service guidance on compliance with wider international obligations when letting public contracts. In addition, UK public bodies are required to have due regard for equality-related issues in their procurement activity.