The Role of Non-EU NHRIs in the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Estudio 24-10-2012

This study has been commissioned by the European Parliament as an input to the discussion on the role of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in particular in Eastern Partnership countries. The study examines the scope of the national institutions’ mandates under the Paris Principles to address human rights and business concerns and provides an overview of the best practices from around the world. The analysis of individual NHRIs’ mandates is focused on NHRIs from non-EU Eastern Partnership countries and complemented with an overview of the role the EU has already played and could play in the future, in providing support to the NHRIs. Since the calls on Belarus so far have failed to result in the establishment of such an institution in this country, the study focuses only on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In this context, the study makes recommendations as to how the EU could support the NHRIs in their task to advance the understanding of and respect for human rights as they relate to business.