Governments and International organisations
With its tailor-made services and extensive network and knowledge, Human Rights@Work supports governments in being more effective towards companies in both their supervisory and supporting roles.
Examples of services include:
- Due diligence advice and tool development
- Training
- Public procurement with respect for human rights
- Risk identification
- Evaluation of government funded projects
Governments have the role of ensuring that businesses respect human rights. Read more >
Due diligence advice / Risk assessment and tool development
Human Rights@Work offers services to create a better understanding of human rights due diligence with governments, for example understanding the sectors at risk, and create realistic expectations of companies.
For the Dutch government, for example, HR@W developed a due diligence tool for the Child Labour Fund to assess the quality of company proposals
Training
Although governments play an important role in ensuring that businesses operate responsibly, often Government officials are not specialised in issues such as child labour or forced labour. We offer tailor-made training to this end.
For example, for the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), responsible for deciding on public subsidies for companies, HR@W offered a training on child labour and forced labour, and due diligence.
Public procurement with respect for human rights
Since 2010, Human Rights@Work has been working on public procurement with respect for human rights. It supported the Dutch government in developing the policy for the international social conditions in contracts as early as in 2012.
Again in 2017 Human Rights@Work helped to align the procurement steps with the OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles for business and human rights.
In 2018 we developed the ISV Academy started, together with its partners Conducto, Circle8 and Twinkel.
In 2019 and 2020 the ISV Academy for public officers started, offering 7 modules throughout 9 months.
For the municipality of The Hague: for example Human Rights@Worked offered tailor made advice how to integrate human rights in their public tender of natural stone.
Examples of services
- Training on procurement with respect for human rights
- Coaching of public buyers in tenders
- Advice on integration of human rights in tenders
Governments are responsible for ensuring that businesses respect human rights
Besides setting legal standards, governments can raise awareness or establish specific conditions in contractual relationships with business (e.g. subsidies, contracts, loans, insurances).
It’s not always easy for governments to reach companies with this message or get them to commit.
Governments may not have the right information available about how companies are complying with human rights policies. Also, shortage of institutional capacity to ensure the implementation and promotion of human rights can be an obstacle for governments in complying with their supervisory role.
Government organisations that have worked with HR@W include:
