Transforming the UN Guiding Principles into Business Practice

SAI & ICCO to convene a 2-day training event to help businesses implement the UN Guiding Principles in their supply chain

July 2012

In June 2011, the UNHCR (UN High Commission adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, developed -- with wide stakeholder consultation -- by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. These groundbreaking principles seek to ensure that businesses respect human rights. The challenge now is in their implementation.

A major innovation of the Handbook is the creation of the Buyer-Supplier Mutual Code of Conduct and the introduction of a social management system at both the buyer and supplier levels in order to integrate and track human rights implementation.

This training is offered as an in-classroom supplement to SAI & ICCO's newly developed Handbook & Toolkit: "The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; A Six-Step Approach to Supply Chain Implementation," released July 2012.

Participants will receive a copy of the Handbook and Toolkit prior to the event. The training event will further elaborate on the Handbook with tools and exercises and will address questions concerning interpretation, scope and the practical integration of business' responsibility to respect human rights in their supply chains.

After completing the training, attendees will have a good understanding of the implications and opportunities of the Principles for business. Moreover they will be able to translate these Principles into their daily practice through the 6-step approach of the training and the practical formats, tools, cases and exercises that have been made available. The 6-step approach will help companies implement a supply chain management system that integrates respect for human rights:

1. Committing to a human rights policy
2. Assessing human rights impacts
3. Integrating human rights into policies, procedures and responsibilities
4. Tracking human rights implementation
5. Communicating human rights impacts
6. Remediating negative human rights impacts

Expected Participants: The Training is applicable to companies in any industry and size. It is designed for use by senior management, as well as professionals in the human resources, corporate social responsibility, compliance and sourcing departments. In addition, the Training is also intended for CSR experts and consultants who train or advise companies, as well as for NGO and trade union representatives to learn about the implications of the Guiding Principles on their work. 

Trainers: The training will be given by Craig Moss, Director of Corporate Programs and Training of SAI, and Edwin Koster, SAI´s European Representative. Both have broad experience in sustainable supply chain management and were co-authors of the Handbook and Toolkit used in the Training.

>>Register now. For inquiries, please contact SAI Training Manager Stephanie Wilson at swilson@sa-intl.org.