Clifford Chance

US Government Holds First Consultation on National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

19 December 2014

In June 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  While they are not themselves binding law, the UN Guiding Principles emphasize that States have obligations under international law to "respect, protect, and fulfill" human rights, and exhort States "to set out clearly the expectation that businesses respect human rights abroad."

On December 15, 2014, the US Government held its first public consultation on the White House National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct in New York City at the NYU Stern School of Business.  The event was the first of four national consultations announced by the Government to develop  the US NAP.

The consultations are open to public participation, but the discussions are not publicized.  Topics covered in the consultations – and likely to be addressed in the NAP – included US Government and company reporting on social risks, land rights and agricultural investments, the extractive sector, trade and investment agreements, and the financial sector.

Download PDF