Background Readings

Dear Participants:

In order to prepare you to engage in the discussions as part of the 2 panel presentations taking place at the conference, the organizers and presenters of the “Business for Human Rights Conference 2007″ have prepared the following background readings for your reference. Please have a look through the documents and feel free to post any comments or questions you may have regarding the content or email the organizers.

General Readings:

1) Report from Prof. John Ruggie (9 Feb 2007): “Business and human rights: mapping international standards of responsibility and accountability for corporate acts [PDF]”

2) Amnesty International and Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum Report – “Human Rights: Is it any of your Business?”

3) UN Global Compact and Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights – “Guide for Integrating Human Rights into Business Management”

Background Readings for Panel on ”Finance to Promote and Respect Human Rights”

1) Report of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights on the Sectoral Consultation entitled “Human Rights and the Financial Sector”, 16 Feb. 2007″ 

2) “Engaging with Socially Responsible Investors”- by Belinda Hoff, Reasearch Associate,  The Institute for Responsible Investment, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

3) Calvert and Sudan Divestment Partnership Press Realease – O2/06/07 

4) Norwegian Pension Fund: Council on Ethics - Recommendation of November 15, 2005 on exclusion of Wal-Mart Stores Inc 

5) OECD Investment Committee – Promotion of Growth and Sustainable Development

Background Readings for Panel on ”Frameworks of Accountability for Human Rights”

1) UN Global Compact – The Ten Principles

2) OECD Guidelines for Multinational Corporations

3) Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: “Top 20 Good Practice Company Reporting on Human Rights” (webpage)

4) Business and Human Rights: “Text of Selected Business and Human Rights Standards” (webpage)