Mazars and Shift put human rights at the heart of corporate governance debate

Developed over several years by international accountancy and advisory firm, Mazars, and leading business and human rights non-profit Shift, the Assurance Guidance supports the 2015 UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, the world’s only reporting framework for companies that is wholly aligned with the authoritative UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  The guidance will help internal auditors to assure companies’ human rights performance, and support external assurance providers as they oversee the assurance of companies’ human rights reporting.

Corporate governance has become a clear focus of governments to address unethical behaviours in business.  A business that understands and reports knowledgeably on its human rights performance is likely to be ahead in its responsibilities around corporate governance.

In the two years since the launch of the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, it has been embraced by leading companies, governments, investors and civil society organisations as a critical tool to help companies improve their human rights risk management, and show greater transparency and accountability. It has been formally recommended by several western governments in guidance to companies. Leading businesses including Unilever, Citi, Ericsson,

H & M and Microsoft have publically stated that it has guided them in their internal risk management and reporting.

Professor John Ruggie, author of the UN Guiding Principles, comments, “Today, any company that wishes to demonstrate either its own sustainability or its contribution to sustainable development, must show how it is driving respect for human rights across its operations and value chains. Independent assurance has a vital role to play in enhancing the credibility of what the company’s Board is told - and tells others - about its risks and performance.”

Richard Karmel, Head of Human Rights Services at Mazars, said: “The EU now requires company boards of all EU public companies with over 500 employees to know how their organisations are identifying and addressing risks to human rights. Their investors, their customers and their employees have a right to know about the progress they are making: it is no longer enough to say “I wasn’t aware.”

“Such demands make internal audit and external audit assurance functions more important than ever. Importantly, the Global and Chartered Institutes of Internal Auditors have given full backing to this Guidance. As professional advisers, we can no longer skirt around the issue of human rights, but must instead integrate it effectively within our professional skill-sets: this Guidance will help make that possible.”

Caroline Rees, President of Shift, explains: “This Assurance Guidance helps expert practitioners ensure that their work plays a valuable role in advancing the protection of workers, communities and other groups affected by business activities – thereby protecting and creating value for the business in the medium to long term.”

She adds:  “Companies cannot gamble.  There are significant risks to corporate business reputation, continuity and opportunity if companies ignore their record in human rights – whether in their own operations or across their entire supply chain. The only real defence for business is to have appropriate, effective procedures in place.”