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UN Global Compact Russia

Projects

Creating a community of experts in business and human rights in the Russian Federation

OBJECTIVES


1. Creation and dissemination of informational and educational materials based on the results of research, legal expertise and analysis of corporate responsibility in the field of human rights

2. Raising awareness of corporate practices and disseminating best practices

3. Promoting public-private partnerships to integrate the Guiding Principles into national policies

4. Creating ICT and access to systematized information to ensure broad participation of responsible business representatives

In June 2021, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the National Network of the Global Compact in Russia with the participation of the Moscow Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation launched the project "Creating a Community of Experts on Business and Human Rights in the Russian Federation".

The goal of the project is to strengthen communications on the challenges, opportunities, and best practices of implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights through the capacity and collaborative efforts of Russian companies and public-private partnerships.

The project includes the development of expertise in corporate practices and the promotion of best practices, the formation of an effective communication strategy and structured information and educational resources in the field of corporate responsibility and the integration of the Guiding Principles into business practice. The project forms a community of practice "Business and Human Rights," which should reduce the communication gap between the business community, on the one hand, and government decision-makers, on the other.

The project provides an opportunity for interaction between all participants of the National Network of the Global Compact in Russia and companies planning to join the Global Compact. These are large and medium-sized Russian companies involved in the country's economy, as well as business associations, non-profit organizations, business schools, consultants involved in partnership with business in implementing the 10 Principles of the Global Compact and the SDGs. In terms of interaction with government agencies, the project involves representatives of key federal ministries and agencies: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Federal Assembly, regional and municipal authorities.

On the part of the expert community the partners of the project from the first stage were Deloitte & Touche CIS (the Russian office has now been transformed into Business Solutions & Technologies) and FBK Legal (a law firm that is a part of the leading Russian audit and consulting group FBK). Two areas of research were conducted: a study of current trends in the human rights agenda in the business context among Russian companies (Deloitte) and the experience of implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Russia and in foreign countries (FBK Legal).

The final sample of the Human Rights in Business Context Survey covered 150 companies, including small (18%), medium (21%), and large businesses (61%). The coverage of the regions was 100%, which means that at least one company participating in the survey is represented in every subject of the Russian Federation. The survey confirmed the positive dynamics in the business environment on the topic of human rights over the past 2-3 years in line with the global trend of "acknowledgement of significance", which is 5 years ahead of the Russian practice. It is also noted that the key drivers are external factors that form the interest in the involvement of Russian business in the aspects of respect and protection of human rights. At the same time, the study showed that not all current due diligence practices can be attributed to the forms expected of companies by the UN Guiding Principles. One of the conclusions: public authorities can play a key role in assisting in the adaptation of Guiding Principles practices to the Russian reality, contributing to their development. The study "Implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Russia and Foreign Countries" (FBK Legal), in turn, reveals the potential role of state institutions in improving the institutional framework in this area.

Based on these studies, the project's working group is forming a database to fill the gap in methodological support and build a consolidated position of business and the state on the implementation of the Guiding Principles. At the second stage of the project "Creating a Community of Experts in the Field of Business and Human Rights in the Russian Federation", which begins this July, it is planned to implement activities on pilot models and practices. In the fall of 2022, a round table is planned to discuss the implementation of the project with the participation of all stakeholders.

The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) plays a special consolidating role in the establishment and development of Russian practices of human rights in the aspect of business activities and their connection with the goals of sustainable development. In 2021, RSPP published its eighth compilation "Russian Business and Human Rights", which presents the practical experience of 32 companies from different sectors of the economy. The collection includes information and analytical materials of RSPP and OHCHR, presents RSPP ESG Index Leaders in Corporate Sustainability, Responsibility and Openness, as well as recommendations of the Conference "Respect for Human Rights as an Indicator of Corporate Responsibility" (dedicated to the 70th anniversary of International Human Rights Day - December 2020). The collection is based on the materials of the electronic Library of Corporate Practices, created by RSPP in 2008 and regularly updated with examples from the experience of responsible companies.

The most important step of RSPP in the development of national practices of corporate sustainability, including human rights aspects, was the approval in 2021 of a new version of the Social Charter of Russian Business / Principles of Responsible Business. The Charter, formed on the initiative of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in 2004, is a unifying platform and a voluntary standard for Russian companies.

It should be noted that one of the five companies in the world that participated in the testing of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights was the Russian company Sakhalin Energy. Nowadays the number of Russian company-drivers of the human rights agenda in business is growing.

New challenges affecting human rights faced by business participants - the transformation of the macroeconomy and international agenda, environmental and climate issues, cyber security issues, labor reallocation, employment and social security, gender equality issues, and others - need to be incorporated into corporate strategies and risk management systems.

Benefits
Joining the Global Compact Network Russia – the Association “National Network of the Global Compact” – opens for the UN Global Compact participants additional opportunities – those mentioned above and stated below.