Page 26 - Global Focus, Issue 2, 2018

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Human rights are business relevant They also lack familiarity with new governance
Businesses in every industry today face a models involving public and private actors that
range of human rights issues that are tied to can serve as platforms for addressing these
their core business strategies. These issues are challenges.
among the most urgent and most complicated However, in recent years a set of industry-
for businesses operating in a global economy. specific multi-stakeholder initiatives have helped
Whether addressing labour practices in global to define common human rights standards and
manufacturing or agriculture, security in mining accountability mechanisms within a number of
operations, principles of non-discrimination and industries.
equal pay for equal work, or issues of privacy and An example is the 18-year-old Fair Labor
political disinformation online, solutions are not Association (FLA) whose participating companies
easy to devise and must address the special include more than 60 major clothing brands and
circumstances of each industry. agricultural companies, NGOs and university
Consider the challenges now facing major representatives. Together they have developed
technology companies such as Facebook, a set of standards and metrics that apply to
Twitter and Google. These companies are under the global supply chains of the clothing industry
immense pressure from governments, media (and now extended to agriculture).
and civil society to take meaningful action to Through industry-wide human rights initiatives
stem the flow of extremist content, hate speech such as the FLA, companies can create a level-
and state-sponsored propaganda on the internet. playing field ensuring that respect for human rights
In these debates, internet service companies does not result in competitive disadvantage. The
can neither claim that they are neutral platforms FLA’s transparency requirements provide evidence
that merely provide the infrastructure for global that corporations are following through with their
communication nor that they should be viewed commitment to uphold workers’ rights.
as full-content editors, equivalent to those who Critical stakeholders can see for themselves
produce daily newspapers. how companies have performed in unannounced
The business model of these companies largely third-party audits. The FLA also verifies that each
depends on online advertising. One challenge they brand addresses any violations that these audits
face is how to remain highly profitable while both reveal. Through such accountability mechanisms,
enabling the right of freedom of expression and brands can foster trust that their commitments
at the same time preventing harmful content, are being honoured and enforced.
including political disinformation, that undermines
our democratic values. Defining the proper roles for Human rights framework for business
companies and governments on these questions education
is essential. By adopting a human rights framework,
Questions such as these pose difficult business schools acknowledge that publically
choices for companies. Some business leaders traded corporations have both an obligation to their
shareholders to achieve stellar economic returns
understand that engaging in these questions is and at the same time a responsibility to other 60
not just a burden but an opportunity for securing
long-term business profitability. Paul Polman, stakeholders in society to address the human
the CEO of Unilever, a Dutch consumer products rights challenges that stem from their core In recent years a set of
industry-specific multi-
giant, for example, argues that “next to our business operations. stakeholder initiatives have
moral obligations to address global challenges, As Peter Henry, former dean of New York helped to define common
it’s also an enormous business opportunity”. University’s Stern school in the US, has emphasised: human rights standards. An
example is the 18-year-old
All too often, however, business leaders do not “At NYU Stern, we develop people and ideas that Fair Labor Association
have the background or human rights framework transform the challenges of the 21st century into (FLA) whose participating
to make informed decisions. Many lack the opportunities to create value for business and companies include more
than 60 major clothing
tools to enable them to engage in dialogue with society. Our Center for Business and Human brands and agricultural
governments and other critical stakeholders that Rights is the embodiment of that mission and companies, NGOs and
are essential to help craft solutions. demonstrates that profit and principle can co-exist”. university representatives
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