Corporate accountability for human rights: Summary report

The “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework’” (the Guiding Principles) , endorsed by The United Nations Human Rights Council o n 16 June 2011 , outline obligations that currently exist under international law and provide the first authoritative reference point for corporations’ human rights responsibilities. Of the 30 principles endorsed , half relate directly to business. The Guiding Principles have far - reaching implications for all businesses, both small and large, and represent one of the most significant development s in corporate governance this century . \ud \ud Despite the significance of the Guiding Principles there is very little research on how the Guiding Principles are beginning to be translated into business contexts, and their implications for accounting and management systems. We currently know very little about perceptions of the Guiding Principles, including whether and how the Guiding Principle s are impacting or could impact on management and accounting systems and the current barriers to implementation. This research is an attempt to begin to close this gap