The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are the authoritative global standard on business and human rights, unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011. The 31 principles set expectations of states and companies about how to prevent and address negative impacts on human rights by business. The Guiding Principles apply to all states and all businesses worldwide and today are being implemented by companies, governments and their stakeholders on every continent.
The Guiding Principles are at the heart of who we are, and at the core of everything we do. We played an instrumental role in WRITING THEM and are internationally renowned as the leading center of expertise on putting them into practice.
Our work with businesses, standard setters, financial institutions, civil society and other key stakeholders is aimed at advancing their implementation, ensuring their accurate interpretation and exploring the frontiers of new thinking that results from their adoption across new industries, sectors and geographies.
“Shift is the leading center of expertise not only because we live and breathe the UNGPs, but because they are our toolbox to help partners overcome the seemingly unsolvable challenges in order to make a difference in people’s lives.”
rachel davis, co-founder of shift
Our Partners and Allies
Our work to interpret and implement the UN Guiding Principles has different forms in a wide variety of contexts. We work with many stakeholders in this collective mission.
Businesses
To help ensure that respect for human rights is embedded into their business models, operations and relationships
Governments & Other Standard Setters
To raise the bar for business practice through laws, regulation and industry-level guidance
Financial Institutions & Investors
To help them fulfill their own responsibilities and to use their leverage to incentivize and reward respect for human rights across their portfolios
Civil Society Organizations
To use our combined expertise to advance business respect for human rights in specific spaces, sectors, industries or activities
Trade Unions
To ensure that business actions are informed by the perspectives, interests and needs of workers and their proxies
Global Sports Bodies
To embed business respect for human rights into the governance structures that articulate the world of sports
CAROLINE REES, PRESIDENT
“Our nature, at Shift, is to be pioneers. As proud as we are of where we started; we find our deepest inspiration in where we are headed. We love to take the road less traveled and to tackle those seemingly unsolvable challenges that can transform people’s lives for the better.”
