Guide “Belarus. Business and Human Rights” 2.0
document
Our guide helps to quickly understand the topic of «business and human rights» and provides basic tools for introducing appropriate approaches into business processes and state regulation.
Who will find the guide useful?
For businesses:
- For developing company policies and procedures in the field of human rights (including in the area of non-discrimination) concerning those whose rights may be affected by the company’s activities: employees, clients, people living in the area where the company operates.
- For creating and using mechanisms for access to remedies intended for employees and other persons whose rights may be impacted by the company’s activities.
- For developing components of non-financial reporting.
- For providing reference information to auditors.
For the state:
- For analyzing and reforming state policies and legislation related to the impact of business on human rights, including in the areas of occupational safety, environmental protection, land resources, non-discrimination, creating equal working conditions for all employees, combating corruption, taxation, consumer protection, or corporate reporting.
- For creating a framework that excludes unscrupulous investors, including through the development of trade and investment agreements.
- For ensuring that state-owned enterprises respect human rights.
- For increasing the awareness and capacity of government bodies and officials regarding the impact of commercial activity on human rights.
- For targeted consulting of Belarusian companies.
- For improving effective access to remedies for victims of human rights violations related to economic activity.
- For enhancing the contribution of the private sector to the implementation of national and regional development programs.
- For implementing recommendations and preparing reports within the framework of international monitoring mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
- For fulfilling tasks within the implementation of the SDGs.
For foreign investors:
- For assessing the risks of the company’s impact on human rights.
- For understanding the country context in the topic of "business and human rights".
- For refining internal policies and procedures regarding Belarusian companies.
- For minimizing risks associated with entering a new market and identifying the most problematic areas for taking additional measures.
- For enhancing the business contribution to the implementation of regional development programs.
For civil society:
- As a source of information for research and monitoring in the field of human rights.
- For identifying problems related to business violations of human rights.
- For protecting and representing the interests of persons whose rights are affected by business activities.
- For supporting the capacity-building of government bodies, business circles, and civil society in the field of human rights and business.
- For working with stakeholders to formulate recommendations for business and government bodies.