Human rights: Holding businesses to account

Ten years ago, the United Nations adopted a landmark set of guiding principles on business and human rights.

“Those who have been harmed by business activity have a right to seek effective remedy through effective process,” says Lene Wendland, chief of the business and human rights section at the UN Human Rights Office.

But how can we make sure guiding principles are followed?

“The UN cannot regulate things at an international level that states already haven’t agreed to regulate at a national level,” points out Arvind Ganesan, director of business and human rights division at Human Rights Watch.

So how do we really ensure big businesses take responsibility for their actions?

Join host Imogen Foulkes to find out who really holds big business to account: the shareholders? The consumers? The workers? Or all of us? 

For more insights and discussions from Switzerland’s international city, subscribe to Inside Geneva on iTunesExternal link, SpotifyExternal link or wherever you get your podcasts. And subscribe to our newsletter, where you’ll hear directly from Imogen in your inbox.