BHR Concepts

A guiding principle created by United Nations in 2011. It is endorsed by international and regional organizations, states, business enterprises, industry and trade union networks, and civil society organizations. “Business and Human Rights” consists of 31 principles within the framework of “protect, respect and remedy”. It provides a common platform for actions that achieve tangible results for affected individuals and communities and also contributes to socially sustainable globalization.

ESG stands for “Environmental, social and governance”, these three factors are important to measure the sustainability of a company or investment. Environmental factors include sustainability and pollution issues. Social aspects include labour conditions, social composition of the workforce, and how stakeholders and communities are being treated. Governance concerns transparency and the accountability of the company. Companies that are socially responsible need to consider all ESG factors when making business decisions.

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) developed mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) landscape at the international, regional, and national levels. mHRDD has the potential role to foster business respect for human rights. OHCHR has developed particular expertise in human rights due diligence through the Accountability and Remedy Project, which is also launched by OHCHR. Nowadays, Governments have been increasingly introducing legislative regimes to encourage or require companies to carry out mHRDD.

In 1987, the UN defined sustainability as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” When applied in the fashion industry, it concerns not only the well-being of the planet and inhabitants but also the working conditions of its employees. Brands have co-opted the use of ‘sustainable’ to sell more products, yet their lines cannot be sustainable if workers are earning poverty pay and having their rights violated in order to make higher profits.

Traceability means the ability to trace each step involved in manufacturing a product, from start to finish. Ideally, each component of the product (from raw materials to parts such as buttons and zippers) and all phases of production (such as the working environment in farms, mills, and factories) should be transparent to consumers. Increasing traceability can enhance sustainability, and help combat labour rights violations.

Transparency means publicly sharing information about the production process such as how, where, and by whom a product was made. For customers, transparency allows people to know exactly what they bought, with details about every step of the production process. For workers, information about brands’ suppliers can help them gain faster access to redress for human rights abuses, thus promoting corporate accountability for labour rights in global supply chains. Transparency is vital when it comes to shaping an ethical garment industry.