Supply Chain Human Rights & Environmental Due Diligence
Build an ethical and future-ready business with integrated Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence. Let DoStartup help you lead responsibly across supply chains.
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Overview
In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council unanimously endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), establishing the concept of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). These principles call upon businesses to proactively identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for potential or existing adverse human rights impacts arising from their operations—including their supply chains. Amid evolving global regulations, companies are now compelled to adopt mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence frameworks. These frameworks are vital for managing risks such as climate change impacts, forced labour, and low supply chain traceability.
What is Human Rights Due Diligence?
Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) involves a proactive, continuous process to: - Identify potential or existing human rights risks - Prevent and mitigate violations - Take remedial action when violations occur - Ensure transparency in reporting and performance Despite the UNGPs being non-binding, their ethical implications are powerful. Yet, many businesses lack meaningful HRDD measures or fail to implement them effectively—often resulting in direct or indirect contributions to human rights violations.
Common Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains
Labour Rights Violations: Millions of workers across global supply chains suffer from unsafe working conditions, below-minimum wages, forced overtime, sexual harassment, exposure to hazardous substances, and lack of maternity leave or grievance redressal. Migrant labourers in engineering and construction often face the highest risk. Child Labour: Approximately 160 million children globally are engaged in child labour, with half in hazardous work. Common in agriculture, mining, apparel, and leather processing sectors. Right to Health & Environmental Hazards: Toxic waste from industries such as leather tanneries or mining contaminates air and water, leading to chronic illnesses, mercury poisoning, and livelihood loss. Violation of Land, Water, and Food Rights: Large-scale land acquisitions for agribusiness, mining, and industrial projects displace communities and restrict access to clean water, housing, and food. Humanitarian Law Violations: In conflict regions, businesses can be complicit in violations of international humanitarian law through operations or partnerships.
1. What Should Human Rights Due Diligence Include?
A comprehensive HRDD framework must cover:
- Adopting a clear human rights policy embedded into all business functions
- Identifying and assessing actual and potential human rights risks
- Preventing and mitigating serious human rights violations
- Verifying actions taken to address risks
- Publicly disclosing HRDD efforts and results
- Providing access to effective remedy for impacted individuals
- Conducting regular environmental and HRDD audits across the supply chain
Dostartup Assistance in HRDD and Environmental Audits
Dostartup offers end-to-end support in building and implementing strong Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence processes. Our services include:
- Risk assessment and mapping across supply chains
- Unannounced and expert-led human rights audits
- Tailored HRDD policy frameworks
- Whistleblower protection systems
- Reporting and transparency consultation
- Remediation mechanisms and compliance support
Listicles
Why Human Rights Safeguards Are Often Absent
- Weak or Absent Human Rights Policies: Lack of clear policies, contract clauses, and integration into core functions.
- Inadequate Risk Assessment and Monitoring: Limited supplier visibility and lack of on-ground risk evaluation.
- Failure to Prevent or Mitigate Risks: No supplier contract enforcement or employee training programs.
- Ineffective or Superficial Third-Party Auditing: Checklists replace in-depth evaluations, missing critical insights.
- Lack of Transparency and Public Reporting: Absence of public disclosures diminishes stakeholder trust.
- Inadequate Remediation: No compensation, stakeholder engagement, or systemic review after violations.
Why Choose DoStartup?
10+ Years of Experience with 400+ In-House CAs, CS, and Lawyers. Serving 10,000+ PIN codes with a 99% SLA Delivery Rate.
End-to-end support in HRDD policy creation, audit, and remediation
Transparent reporting consultation and grievance redressal systems
Expert guidance aligned with UNGPs and global ESG frameworks
Unannounced audits and supply chain traceability enhancements