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3.2. Responsible Business Conduct Acquiring expertise for risk identification and assessment [page 33] The 18th principle outlines procedures for risk management based on internal or external expertise and dialogue with stakeholders. Companies in high-risk industries and companies that operate in vulnerable areas should identify and gauge the risks they run of having adverse human rights…

3.2. Responsible Business Conduct Due Diligence [page 33] The 17th principle explains what is meant by due diligence.

3.2. Responsible Business Conduct           How should a company fulfil its responsibility? [page 32] The 16th principle specifies the ways in which companies can embed respect for human rights in all their activities and publicly express their commitment. Policy statements and operational guidelines provide a practical framework for the company’s activities. The Guiding Principles strongly emphasise…

3.2. Responsible Business Conduct What should a company do? [page 32] The 15th principle specifies ways in which companies can ensure responsible business conduct. Thus, companies must know and show that they respect human rights. This means having sound strategies and management systems. Principles 16–24 describe in more detail points (a), (b) and (c) of…

3.2. Responsible Business Conduct Which companies are the Guiding Principles targeting? [page 32] The 14th principle states that the recommendations apply to all companies. However, it is clear that more is expected of companies with substantial resources. Relevance and context must also be taken into account. A company’s capacity to act often depends on its…

3.2 Responsible Business Conduct [page 31] An enterprise may cause or contribute to adverse human rights impacts if for example its employees are working under disgraceful conditions or if the living conditions of the local community that are directly affected by the company’s operations decline without prior explanation from or dialogue with the relevant parties, including…

3.1 Responsibility to respect human rights Companies’ responsibility to respect human rights [page 31] Internationally recognised human rights’ are those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the two 1966 International Covenants, on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Political and Civil Rights, and the ILO core conventions. In some…

3.1 Responsibility to respect human rights [page 31] Under the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD Guidelines, business enterprises have an independent responsibility to respect human rights. This is not a legal requirement. However, most countries have legislation that directly or indirectly protects individuals and vulnerable groups from human rights abuses in connection with business…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.9 International cooperation on CSR [page 27] Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles will help to ensure a more level playing field and greater transparency and predictability for enterprises with international investments. States should harmonise their expectations in international forums that support, enter into partnerships with and…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.8 Free-trade agreements and investment contracts [page 26] Norway is bound by reciprocal obligations through its membership of international trade organisations such as EFTA and WTO. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has the overall responsibility for bilateral free trade agreements (EFTA) and investment contracts, while…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.7 Policy coherence in the central government administration [page 26] To strengthen coordination, the Government will establish an interministerial working group headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that Norway’s CSR-related positions in international forums are coherent, and that the relevant ministries are notified of…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.6 Human rights in conflict areas [page 25] (…) Companies themselves have a responsibility to identify serious risks connected with areas that have been or are affected by conflict. There is an increasing demand from the business sector for dialogue and cooperation with the public authorities on…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.5 Public procurement [page 25] “(…) Since the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD Guidelines do not distinguish between public-sector and private-sector business conduct, it is important that the state should have high standards. It is not logical to have high expectations of private companies if the…

2. The State duty to protect human rights 2.4 Competitive tendering for public services [page 25] (…) Examples of public services subject to competitive tendering that may have consequences for human rights are the operation of asylum reception centres, hospitals and schools. The state may also be held responsible for human rights violations if these…

2.The State duty to protect human rights 2.3 State ownership and practice for supporting the business sector [pages 21-24] Direct state ownership in multinational enterprises is relatively extensive in Norway. We also have the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, the Government Pension Fund Global, which is invested in around 9000 enterprises worldwide. State ownership In…