Why An NGO Is Concerned About Balancing Human Rights & Business

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

With growing concerns about human rights abuses carried out within confine walls of many business entreprises and reported daily in Nigeria, a Non Government Organization (NGO) is worried and committed at doing something to change the situation.

Recently, the N.G.O, Global Rights, organized a two day intensive training workshop for Nigeria Journalists at Abuja and Lagos, with a view at addressing the gap and challenges citizen & business entities face at balancing human rights and running business entities in Nigeria.

Jummai Pam, Global Rights's Program Officer, unveiled how the gaps and challenges are being addressed globally.

According to her, the United Nations in 2011 endorsed some set of guidelines, called 'united nations guiding principles on business and human rights'.

This United Nations Guiding Principles has 31 principles enacted under three pillars.

Sharing insights into the features of the guiding principles, Pam, pointed out that the guiding principles is a non binding legal instrument.

The implementation of this guiding principles is non-discriminatory operationally speaking.

The guiding principles applies to all states and businesses, regardless of location, sizes, ownership, structure or sector, Jummai Pam noted.

It is the States obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedom, the guiding principles advocates.

In the same vein, business enterprises are required to comply with all applicable laws and to respect human rights.

There is as well need for rights and obligations to be matched to  appropriate and effective remedies when human rights are breached, Pam told journalists.

The N.G.O believed that a sound understanding of the three pillars of the United Nations Guiding Principles On Business & Human Rights, makes a huge difference in balancing running proactive businesses and respecting human rights.

Jummia Pam, noted that the first pillar is couached around the idea that it is the state's duty to protect citizens against rights abuses.

Here, she pointed out, states must protect against cititzens against human rights abuses within their territories by third parties.

This requires taking appropriate steps to prevent, investigate, punish and redress abuses through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication, Pam explained.

Journalists were informed about the second pillar as corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which means businesses should avoid infringing on human rights of others and seek proactive means to address adverse human rights impacts with which they are involved with.

Of the third pillar, Global Rights believes that as part of their duty to protect against business related human rights abuses, states must ensure through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means that those affected by rights violations have unhindered access to effective remedy.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)