The Human Rights &
Business Project of the Danish Institute for Human Rights
The Human Rights & Business Project strives to combine the expertise of the human rights research community with the experience of business in order to develop concrete achievable human rights standards for companies, and to help companies live up to those standards in practice through training and advisory services.
Topics covered on this page:
Background
The Project was jointly started in 1999 by the Confederation of Danish Industries, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries, in cooperation with the Danish Government. The research is conducted from the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), Denmark’s national human rights institute, an organization of over 80 people placed in a larger environment of the Danish Centre for International Studies and Human Rights (DCISM).
Download Project Brochure [pdf]
Project Governing Structure
An Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from the Confederation of Danish Industries (DI), the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries (IFU), the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA), and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), meets once every three months to discuss the research and ensure that the Project continues to meet the needs of the business community.
Members of the Advisory Board:
Ole Lund Hansen,
Chef
Consulent, Confederation of Danish Industries (DI).
Margaret Jungk,
Senior Advisor, Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).
Morten Kjærum,
Director, Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR).
Charlotte Laursen,
Head of Department, Danish International Development Assistance
(DANIDA).
Birgitte Bang Nielsen,
Head of
Corporate Social Responsibility, Industrialisation Fund for
Developing Countries (IFU).
Jens Rixen,
Legal Advisor, Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries (IFU).
John Svenningsen,
Consultant, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO).
return to top
Participating Organizations
The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) is a national human rights institution in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. Originally created by an Act of Parliament in 1987, the Institute became part of the Danish Centre for International Studies and Human Rights (DCISM) on January 1, 2003. The work of DIHR includes research, analysis, information, education, documentation, and complaints handling, as well as a large number of national and international programmes. DIHR takes a multidisciplinary approach to human rights, and operates with a staff of approximately 80 employees who specialise primarily in the areas of law, political science, economics, and social studies. Of the 60 national human rights institutions, DIHR is one of the largest and is highly respected internationally.
The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) is an industry and employers' association for 6.400 committed Danish companies. DI's membership comprises both large and small high-technological companies within manufacturing, services, research and IT. All companies share a common mission to develop their businesses through innovation and sustainable production to the benefit of welfare and employment in Denmark. DI aims to provide the best working conditions for each company through a sustainable partnership with employees and society.
IFU, Industrialisation Fund for Developing Countries, has been created for the purpose of promoting economic activity in developing countries in collaboration with Danish trade and industry. IFU offers capital and advice to joint venture enterprises in developing countries. IFU participates as a partner in the joint ventures through committing equity capital and/or loans and through board membership. IFU works in a spirit of partnership with Danish and local partners and maintains this spirit throughout the joint work in the investment projects.
LO, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions is the largest national trade union confederation in Denmark and is recognised as the most representative workers' organisation in both the public and the private sector. LO's main objective is to handle employee interests vis-à-vis employers and authorities. Through its cooperation with associations, cartels and other trade union organisations, LO seeks to influence the government and the political parties when it comes to drafting and implementing legislation, especially in relation to labour market policies. In its role of coordinator in relation to central collective bargaining, LO strives to secure common, overall demands.
Danida, Danish International Development Assistance, is a part of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The promotion of sustainable development through poverty-oriented economic growth is the fundamental challenge for Danish development cooperation. At the same time, Danish development policy is a central and integral part of Danish foreign and security policy. Danida constantly works to ensure that Danish assistance fulfils its original goal of helping the poor by providing critical investments in education and health, infrastructure plus support for the development of a private sector as an engine for growth.
return to top
Other Partners & Organizations
UN Global Compact:
In 2003, the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the UN Global Compact signed a Memorandum of Understanding, identifying major areas of cooperation between the two organisations. In the MoU, the Global Compact recognises the educational and practical value of the tools developed by the Human Rights & Business Project, and states its support for the Project's efforts to 'further the business sector's capacity to understand and implement the human rights principles enshrined in the Global Compact and other international agreements'.
Aim for Human Rights:
In September 2003, the Human Rights and Business Project partnered with the Dutch human rights organization
HOM (Humanistisch Overleg Mensenrechten), now known as 'Aim for Human Rights' (AFHR). AFHR has contributed to the development and publicity of the HRCA by testing the tool and taking part in the consultation meeting held in Copenhagen in April 2004. In cooperation with DIHR,
AFHR organized a consultation meeting to identify barriers which hinder companies in implementing human rights. Furthermore,
AFHR participated in the process of developing the Quick Check version of the HRCA and is actively promoting the HRCA tool to companies, institutions and organizations in the Netherlands.
Global Reporting
Initiative (GRI)
Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights
(BLIHR)
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
International Business Leaders
Forum (IBLF)
return to top
CSR Compass
The global market increasingly expects companies to be able to document how they - and their suppliers - live up to environmental standards, workers' rights, human rights and so forth. To help companies address these issues, the Human Rights & Business Project has developed the CSR Compass. The tool was developed in close co-operation with the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs and the Confederation of Danish Industries.
The CSR Compass is a web-based tool specifically aimed at assisting small- and medium-sized Danish companies in managing social and environmental issues in global supply chains. The tool consists of two parts: i) a CSR Declaration, for use when a company is faced with CSR requirements from buyers and business partners, and ii) a CSR Code of Conduct, for use when a company wants to make ethical demands on its own suppliers.
Access the CSR Compass (in Danish)
Download brochure about the CSR Compass (in Danish)
return to top
Diversity Management & Equal Treatment
Mangfoldighed.dk is a project hosted by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), which focuses at diversity and equal treatment in the workplace (mangfoldighed translates directly to diversity). The purpose of the project is to raise awareness on discrimination and diversity, and to promote equal opportunities diversity in the labour market through literature and information material targeted at companies, seminars, compliance assessment tools for businesses and last but not least the annual MIA-prize - the Danish acronym for Diversity in the Workplace. Mangfoldighed.dk also hosts the MIA-network, which brings together minority organisations and NGOs with employer- and employee organisations. The purpose of the network is to create a common platform for the fight against discrimination and to promote diversity and equal treatment. See www.mangfoldighed.dk (as of yet only in Danish). For more information in English please refer to www.miapris.dk.
Each year the DIHR hands out a diversity and equal treatment achievement award to public and private companies. In March 2006 the MIA-prize - the Danish acronym for Diversity in the Workplace - will be awarded for the third time. The MIA-prize jury will select winners on grounds of what concrete actions they have taken to strengthen diversity and ensure equal opportunities for all - regardless of gender, ethnic origin, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation. The event will take place March 31st in Copenhagen. For more information in English please refer to www.miapris.dk.
return to top
Project Personnel
Jobs/Internships
The
Human Rights & Business Project is seeking three interns to start in Jan. 2009.Our
interns are primarily engaged in research activities and
supporting the projects of the advisers in the department,
including projects such as:
- Development of Country Risk Assessments.
- Support in advisory services to businesses.
- Development of the Human Rights Compliance Assessment.
- Following developments in the human rights and business field.
- Research and development related to new projects.
Interns will be employed 37 hours a week for a period of 4-6
months, and provided with DKK 5,000 per month. Applicants should
hold a degree in human rights, political science, law, business,
anthropology, development studies or a related field. Prior
experience in human rights or CSR is preferable, but not
required. Good writing and speaking skills in English are
essential, as well as ability to work independently.
Please send a cover letter, CV and a writing sample in English
to Niels Rytter at
nry@humanrights.dk.
Applications must be submitted no later than November 1, 2008.
return to top
Further information can be obtained from:
The Human Rights and Business Project
Danish Institute for Human Rights
Strandgade 56
1401 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone (+45) 32 69 88 88
Fax (+45) 32 69 88 00
business@humanrights.dk
return to top
The Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Human Rights & Business Project are non-profit organizations. All proceeds from training and advisory services go directly to fund the research and related activities aimed at the promotion and strengthening of human rights.
