Business and Human Rights

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has decided to inquire into business and human rights; the way in which businesses can affect human rights both positively and negatively; how business activities engage the relative responsibilities of the UK Government and individual businesses; and whether the existing UK regulatory, legal and voluntary framework provides adequate guidance and clarity to business as well as adequate protection to individual rights.

The Committee has heard oral evidence from Prof. John Ruggie on 3 June; Amnesty International, CORE, Action Aid, Leigh Day Solicitors, TUC and Institute for Employment Rights on 9 June; CBI, Rio Tinto, Associated British Foods, Tesco and BP on 1 July; and the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission on 7 July. The Committee will hear evidence from Ministers from the Ministry of Justice, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Tuesday 14 July. See Reports and Publications page for uncorrected transcripts.