Human Rights Issues

A Glossary of terms relating to Human Rights Violations

Bonded Labour
A form of servitude in payment of a debt.  Bonded child labour is when children are offered into servitude, usually by their parents, in return for payment.  Bonded labour is common in common in the hand knotted carpet industry in South Asia and in agriculture in parts of Asia and West Africa

‘Disappearances’
When there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has been apprehended by the authorities or their agents, who deny that the victim is held – placing the victim outside the law

Extra-judicial killing (unlawful killing)
Willful killings of defenseless prisoners or other people, including summary executions and assignations

Freedom of Association
The right of all individuals to form and join organizations of their own choosing without any prior authorization

Forced Labour
Involuntary and coercive labour covering a range of situations including the trafficking of women and or children for prostitution (see Michael Hourigan’s cases and litigation); forced begging and soliciting, forced work in construction sites; factories and small shops; sweatshops and as domestic workers

Forcible relocation
The enforced displacement of communities, usually because of their ethnicity.  This sometimes occurs to allow for major infrastructure projects or for resources

Hostage-Taking
Holding people captive solely to force a third party to comply with demands

Torture
An act by which sever pain or suffering, either physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted upon another for the purpose of punishment, intimidation or obtaining information (see Michael Hourigan’s cases and litigation)

Source: Amnesty International UK and IBLF

Business and Human Rights

Why are companies at risk?

In recent times companies have been faced with unprecedented opportunity and equally unprecedented risk and threat.  The growing dependence of some countries or states on international investment has been matched by a growing conflict within countries, governance issues and a lack of effective law in many parts of the developing world.

Companies operating global operations are at real risk of being caught in human rights violations.  Further, we are living in a world of constant threat of exposure through the scrutiny of the world wide media; internet; organized activist groups and internal whistle blowing.

Companies operating in vulnerable locations not only risk damaging reputation, but their bottom lines.

Industries Exposed To High Human Rights Risk Factor Include:

• Oil & Gas and Mining (Extractive Industry)
• Beverages, Food Producers and Processors
• Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Health
• Infrastructure and Utilities (Construction & Building materials, Water, Electricity, Gas and Gas Distribution)
• Heavy Manufacturing and Defence (Engineering and Machinery, Automobiles and Automotive Parts; Aerospace and Defence)
• Agriculture
• Footwear and Apparel
• Logging
• Tourism
• Finance

Doing Good Can Mean Doing Well!

In an era where the gap between rich and poor has grown spectacularly, where the world’s developing and emerging economies offer incredible business opportunities in untapped yet unstable markets, doing international business has never seen so much potential reward, yet so much risk.  Racial, social and economic communities around the world are vulnerable through weak government, poor governance structures, bribery and corruption, human rights abuses and lack of social infrastructure.  Doing business in developing economies can have excellent rewards, but the risks and responsibilities are high.

Increasing numbers of companies are recognizing the need for and respect of human rights – as upheld in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – it is a fundamental, unavoidable and necessary component of being a responsible business.

Smart companies are not waiting to be caught out; exposed into corrective action by public or media scandals; activist campaigns or litigation.  Smart companies are winning the business game by adopting careful strategies to address their human rights impacts by ensuring:

• Elimination of child/slave labour
• Avoiding forced or compulsory labour
• Guaranteed freedom of Association
• Minimisation of population displacement
• Not allowing racial, gender or religious discrimination
• Responsible product testing
• Responsible partnering and engagement with stakeholders and governments to promote and observe human rights.

IBC’s Managing Director Michael Hourigan has worked as an International Human Rights Lawyer for over 10 years and has personally lead high profile investigations into many Human Rights abuse cases.  He is passionate about the need for awareness, debate and action into issues surrounding Corporate Responsibility and Global Human Rights.

Using his own first hand knowledge and unique experiences on the ground in some of the world’s most troubled hot spots, Michael can assist companies and organizations manage their human rights dilemmas through Public Speaking to create awareness; Executive Coaching and Mentoring or through training program or corporate strategic planning consultancy work.

By adopting policies and practices to manage the human rights risks in companies can Do Good and do Well, in order to:

• Gain a competitive edge
• Protect brand and reputation
• Attract and retain staff
• Improve Productivity
• Increase investor confidence