The Northern Ireland Business and Human Rights Index Report provides an assessment of corporate implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in the region.

The project was a collaboration between Dr Marisa McVey and Anna Montgomery of Queen’s University Belfast School of Law and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, with support from the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI).

While states hold the primary responsibility under international law for preventing human rights violations within their territories, there is growing recognition of the significant impact that business operations can have on these rights.

The UNGPs, adopted by the United Nations in 2011, serve as the internationally recognised framework outlining both state obligations and corporate responsibilities regarding human rights.

The adoption of the UNGPs signifies a shift from the broader concept of corporate social responsibility towards more authoritative human rights guidelines and instruments.

The report warns of a “concerning picture of the business and human rights landscape” in Northern Ireland, saying its analysis suggests “low levels of corporate alignment with the UNGPs and that considerable efforts are required to increase human rights awareness, policy commitment, due diligence process and access to remedy amongst NI companies”.