Nornickel and human rights agenda

Human rights in the sustainable development agenda

Human rights are rights that belong to every person in the world whatever their origin, gender, ethnicity, religion, language and status. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the core human rights include:

  • Right to life
  • Right to a fair trial
  • Right to food
  • Right to health
  • Right to adequate housing
  • Right to an adequate standard of living
  • Right to education
  • Right to family life
  • Right to freedom from discrimination
  • Right to freedom from slavery and forced labour
  • Right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
  • Right to freedom of association and collective bargaining
  • Right to freedom of movement
  • Right to freedom of opinion, expression, thought and religion
  • Right to intellectual property
  • Right to life, liberty and security of person
  • Right to property
  • Right to participate in cultural life
  • Right to privacy
  • Right to public participation
  • Right to just and favourable conditions of work

The United Nations (UN) is a central human rights institution across the globe. One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the creation of a comprehensive body of human rights law – a universal and internationally protected code to which all nations can subscribe and all people aspire. The UN has defined a broad range of internationally accepted rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. It has also established mechanisms to promote and protect these rights and to assist states in carrying out their responsibilities.

The foundations of this body of law are the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations has gradually expanded human rights law to encompass specific standards for women, children, persons with disabilities, minorities and other vulnerable groups, who now possess rights that protect them from discrimination that had long been common in many societies.

Human rights in the global sustainable development agenda

In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted 15 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which lie at the heart of the global 2030 Agenda. 17 goals are decomposed into 169 targets and 232 indicators nearly all of which are related to human rights and reflect the provisions of relevant international regulations.

While making progress towards SDGs, nations are also moving towards fulfilment of their obligations with respect to human rights.

13 SDGs are related to human rights

4 SDGs are indirectly linked to the human rights agenda

Human rights in the global sustainable development agenda

Human rights in business

Business enterprises can have a direct or indirect impact on the entire range of internationally recognised human rights of their own employees and employees along the supply chain, customers, local communities and end users of products or services.

In accordance with human rights principles and standards set out in international laws, nations assume obligations to protect human rights from infringement by third parties, including businesses, on their territory or jurisdiction. All business enterprises must respect and protect human rights, which means they must not tolerate breaches of human rights and adversely impact their exercise. In case of breaches they must secure access to effective remedies based on court and out-of-court resolution mechanisms.

Protection of human rights in business

The underlying international documents setting out principles and approaches to human and labour rights for businesses are as follows:

  • The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) – UN recommendations for businesses, including public commitments to respect human rights, act with due diligence to avoid infringing on human rights and providing access to remedies;
  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – recommendations on responsible business conduct for multinational enterprises;
  • the International Labour Organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work – a basic document in labour rights regulating labour relations.

In addition to the underlying documents, there are also standards related to human rights of certain vulnerable groups, including, but not limited to, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and other documents.