What do the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights primarily provide?

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights primarily serve to establish a comprehensive framework for businesses to respect human rights in their operations and to provide clear expectations for businesses regarding their responsibility to avoid infringing on the rights of individuals and communities. This framework emphasizes that companies should conduct due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for their impacts on human rights.

The principles encourage transparency and reporting, which aligns closely with the concept of human rights reporting. They guide businesses in assessing how their practices affect human rights and in communicating these findings effectively to stakeholders. This reporting is essential for holding businesses accountable and for ensuring that they are not contributing to human rights violations.

By establishing these principles, the UN aims to create a consistent approach across different sectors and regions, promoting accountability and respect for human rights within the operations of businesses globally.