Management System Approach Aims To Meet Human Rights Expectations

Abstract

This article, written by Editorial Manager Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 164979, ’Management Systems Approach to Managing Human Rights Issues,’ by Tam Nguyen, Chevron, Bert Fokkema, Shell, Julie Vallat, Total, and Roper Cleland, IPIECA, prepared for the 2013 SPE European HSE Conference and Exhibition, London, 16-18 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed. A range of external expectations exists for companies to demonstrate how they respect human rights, including having business processes in place to prevent or mitigate human rights issues caused by the company’s projects or operations. The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) has responded to the emergence of external guidelines in connection to implementing human rights due diligence by improving existing management systems and processes. Background United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were developed through an iterative process spanning 6 years and involving extensive stakeholder consultation. In the first stage of the work, John Ruggie, United Nations special representative to the secretary-general, conducted 3 years of research to develop the global Protect, Respect, and Remedy Framework on business and human rights. Ruggie developed the framework to help clarify the distinct roles of states and businesses in human rights. It rests on three interdependent pillars—the state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties through regulation and legislation; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights through due diligence; and the need for citizens to have access to effective remedy, both judicial and nonjudicial. The United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the framework in 2008. Upon endorsement, Ruggie established the United Nations Guiding Principles. The principles supplement the framework by outlining how governments should meet their duties and how companies should demonstrate their responsibilities. IPIECA’s Business and Human Rights Initiative. IPIECA launched a 3-year business and human rights project that leverages the collective experience and practical knowledge of its members. The objectives of the project are to Support the organizational capability of IPIECA members in two focus areas, company due diligence and community-level grievance mechanisms Serve as the authoritative reference body for the oil and gas industry on business and human rights issues, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant external guidelines