National Baseline Assessment on the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 

 

Rights Lab project lead: Katarina Schwarz 
Funder:  Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 
Duration: January 2025-March 2026 
Programme: Law and Policy 

This study is assessing the current level of implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) across the UK, by the UK government and UK businesses. It includes an assessment of implementation for each of the three pillars of the UNGPs: state duty to protect; business responsibility to respect; and access to remedy. To achieve this overarching aim, the project is answering the following questions: 

(1) What measures have been taken by the UK Government to support business adherence with international and regional human rights standards? 

(2) What measures have been taken by the UK Government to ensure access to remedy for victims of human rights violations? 

(3) What are the gaps in current legal and policy frameworks adopted by the UK government, as well as government programming, to support business adherence to human rights standards and ensure access to remedy for victims? 

(4) To what extent have UK businesses committed to respecting human rights, including by carrying our human rights due diligence and participating in remediation processes? 

(5) What adverse human rights impacts have been caused, or contributed to, by UK businesses across the UK and overseas? 

(6) What lessons can be learned from comparative analysis of implementation of the UNGPs by other States and trading blocs and other relevant business and human rights frameworks? 

The study adopts a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data from existing sources with primary data collection through interviews, surveys, focus groups, and participatory workshops.