National Action Plans (NAPs) are an essential opportunity for holding governments accountable for the protection of human rights against abuses by corporate actors. The following resources offer a set of tools for governments, civil society, business, and other actors to engage with in advocating for or developing NAPs, as well as links to NAPs that have already been developed by several countries.
Tools and guidance for developing NAPs
National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights Toolkit
The Danish Institute for Human Rights and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (November 2017)
National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights Toolkit: 2017 Edition
Kit de Herramientas Sobre Planes de Acción Nacionales de Empresas y Derechos Humanos: Edicíon 2017
Guide sur les plans d'action nationaux droits de l'Homme et entreprises: édition 2017
НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ ПЛАН ДІЙ У СФЕРІ БІЗНЕСУ І ПРАВ ЛЮДИНИ
National Baseline Assessment Template – Road-testing versionGuidance on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (November 2016)
Guidance on National Action Plans on Business and Human RightsOrientación para los Planes de Acción Nacionales sobre las Empresas y los Derechos Humanos
National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights: An Initial Analysis of Plans from 2013-2018
Children’s Rights in National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights
The Danish Institute for Human Rights, the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2016)
Children’s Rights in National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human RightsExtractives and National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights
The Due Process of Law Foundation and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (December 2017)
Extractives and National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human RightsHuman Rights Defenders in National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights
The International Service for Human Rights and the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (June 2016)
Human Rights Defenders in National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights
Human Rights and Business Country Guides
Assessments of existing NAPs
Scottish Human Rights Commission, Business and Human Rights National Action Plans, Comparative Review of Global Best Practice (2019) and a further Summary and Recommendations (2019)
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) (2017) Assessments of Existing National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights
European Parliament, Directorate-General for External Policies, Policy Department (2017) Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on business and Human Rights
Policy documents on NAPs
- Council of the European Union, Council Conclusions on Business and Human Rights, July 2016
- European Commission (2011), A renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility
- Council of Europe, Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)3 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on human rights and business, March 2016 and Explanatory Memorandum
- International Organization of Employers (OIE) (2015) IOE Synopsis on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights
- OECD (2017) National action plans on business and human rights to enable policy coherence for responsible business conduct
- UN Human Rights Council (2014) Elaboration of an international legally binding instrument on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with respect to human rights and Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises 26th Session, 10-27 June 2014, Geneva
- BSR; the Foreign Trade Association; the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights; the International Chamber of Commerce; the International Council for Mining and Metals; the International Organisation of Employers; the US Council for International Business; the UN Global Compact; and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Statement on National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights, Session at the UN Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, "National action plans to implement the UN Guiding Principles: stepping up Government commitments and action", 16 November 2015
- Clifford Chance, Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, Briefing Paper on National Action Plans, 2015
- A workshop report from Scotland to inform the NAP process, “Securing Sustainable and Accountable Business in Europe: the role of National Action Plans (NAPs)“.
Websites
- Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) Home page
- Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) page on National Action Plans
- UN Working Group (UNWG) page on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
Articles about NAPs
- Humberto Cantú Rivera (2019), National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights: Progress or Mirage? Business and Human Rights Journal, 0(0), 1-25
- Methven O’Brien, C. (2017) In Depth: National Action Plans. Peace in Progress: Business and Human Rights, nr. 30
- Methven O’Brien, C. et al. (2016) National Action Plans: Current Status and Future Prospects for a New Business and Human Rights Governance Tool. Business and Human Rights Journal, 1(1), 117-126.
- De Felice, D. et Graf, A. (2015) The Potential of National Action Plans to Implement Human Rights Norms: An Early Assessment with Respect to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Journal of Human Rights Practice, Volume 7, Issue 1
- Blackwell, S. et Vander Meulen, N, Two Roads Converged: The Mutual Complementarity of a Binding Business and Human Rights Treaty and National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights, Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law: Vol. 6 : Iss. 1
Blogs and news articles
