In June 2011, the UNHCR (UN High Commission) adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, developed – with wide stakeholder consultation – by UN Special Representative John Ruggie. These groundbreaking principles seek to ensure that businesses respect human rights. The challenge now is in their implementation.

A major innovation of the Handbook is the creation of the Buyer-Supplier Mutual Code of Conduct and the introduction of a social management system at both the buyer and supplier levels in order to integrate and track human rights implementation.

This training is offered as an in-classroom supplement to SAI & ICCO's (the Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation) newly developed Handbook & Toolkit: The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; A Six-Step Approach to Supply Chain Implementation, released July 2012.

The first training will take place in Utrecht, the Netherlands, September 17-18, 2012. Future trainings are expected to take place in Brazil and India.

Participants will receive a copy of the Handbook and Toolkit prior to the event. The training event will further elaborate on the Handbook with tools and exercises and will address questions concerning interpretation, scope and the practical integration of business' responsibility to respect human rights in their supply chains.

After completing the training, attendees will have a good understanding of the implications and opportunities of the Principles for business. Moreover they will be able to translate these Principles into their daily practice through the 6-step approach of the training and the practical formats, tools, cases and exercises that have been made available. The 6-step approach will help companies implement a supply chain management system that integrates respect for human rights:

1. Committing to a human rights policy
2. Assessing human rights impacts
3. Integrating human rights into policies, procedures and responsibilities
4. Tracking human rights implementation
5. Communicating human rights impacts
6. Remediating negative human rights impacts

Expected Participants: The Training is applicable to companies in any industry and size. It is designed for use by senior management, as well as professionals in the human resources, corporate social responsibility, compliance and sourcing departments. In addition, the Training is also intended for CSR experts and consultants who train or advise companies, as well as for NGO and trade union representatives to learn about the implications of the Guiding Principles on their work. 

Trainers: The training will be given by Craig Moss, Director of Corporate Programs and Training of SAI, and Edwin Koster, SAI´s European Representative. Both have broad experience in sustainable supply chain management and were co-authors of the Handbook and Toolkit used in the Training.

Register now @ http://bit.ly/QFiXDZ.

For inquiries, please contact SAI Training Manager Stephanie Wilson at swilson@sa-intl.org.

About Social Accountability International

Social Accountability International (SAI) is a nonprofit, multi-stakeholder organization established to advance the human rights of workers and the social responsibility of companies by promoting decent work conditions and labor rights through voluntary standards. SAI is among the world's leading supply chain management and CSR training organizations, and has provided training to over 30,000 people since its establishment in 1997. SAI developed one of the world's preeminent social standards— SA8000^®— a recognized benchmark among the voluntary codes and standards initiatives. Over 1.7 million workers are employed in over 3,000 SA8000 facilities in 64 countries, across 65 industrial sectors.

SAI is headquartered in the United States with field representation in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Subscribe to SAI’s e-Newsletter at www.sa-intl.org/news and follow SAI on Twitter @sa_intl.

Social Accountability International

Social Accountability International

Founded in 1997, Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global non-governmental organization with a mission to advance human rights at work. SAI’s vision is of decent work everywhere—sustained by an understanding that socially responsible workplaces benefit business while securing fundamental human rights. SAI empowers workers and managers at all levels of businesses and supply chains, using its multi-industry SA8000® Standard, as well as Social Fingerprint®, TenSquared, and other training and capacity-building programs. SAI is a leader in policy and implementation, working together with a diverse group of stakeholders, including brands, suppliers, governments, trade unions, non-profits, and academia.

More from Social Accountability International