The Australian business guide to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

A catalyst for greater engagement from the business community on the human rights agenda was the UNGPs, which were unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, including support from the Australian Government. The UNGPs clearly articulate the corporate responsibility to respect human rights. They provide an authoritative global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity. In doing so, they also provide civil society, investors and other stakeholders with a clear framework to hold business to account for their human rights performance.

While States have the primary duty to protect human rights through policy, legislation and regulation and adjudication, this Guide focuses on the corporate responsibility to respect human rights through business operations and relationships, and the related corporate commitment to support human rights as per the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. Specifically, Principles 1 and 2 of the UN Global Compact focus on human rights with an emphasis on businesses supporting and respecting internationally proclaimed human rights and ensuring businesses are not complicit in human rights abuses. The UNGPs and UN Global Compact are aligned on the nature and scope of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.

The purpose of this Guide is to provide practical guidance for businesses operating in Australia on how to implement their human rights responsibilities and commitments with regard to Indigenous Australians as outlined in the Declaration and in line with other core standards including the UNGPs and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact.