Business & Human Rights Accelerator

The idea of human rights is as simple as it is powerful: That all people have a right to be treated with dignity.

Business is about people. Directly or indirectly, businesses often impact the human rights of their employees and contract workers, workers in their supply chains, the communities around their operations and the end users of their products or services. Businesses impact virtually the entire spectrum of internationally recognized human rights.

As a result, companies have both a responsibility and an opportunity to advance human rights across their operations, supply chains and beyond. Is your company able to know and show that it supports and respects the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights, and that it is not complicit in human rights abuses?

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a six-month programme activating companies participating in the UN Global Compact across industries and regions. The objective is to help businesses swiftly move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights through establishing an ongoing human rights due diligence process.

What Will You Learn?

How to identify your responsibilities in respecting human rights and labour rights, expressed in the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
How to establish an ongoing human rights due diligence process in line with international standards
How to prepare organizations for evolving human rights due diligence legislation that is aligned with international standards
How to report and communicate on your human rights due diligence outcomes, including through the Communication on Progress, the annual public disclosure requirement for all UN Global Compact participants
How to connect human rights and the human rights due diligence process with social sustainability initiatives

What Will You Gain?

An understanding of where your company is on their human rights journey
An assessment of actual and potential adverse human rights impacts and the ability to prioritize action
The knowledge about steps to take to mitigate your human rights impacts, including grievance mechanisms and remedy
Ways to effectively engage stakeholders on operational impacts on people
An action plan to advance human rights in your company and beyond
A network of peers, UN partners and experts to support your human rights journey and work collectively to tackle persistent barriers to human rights due diligence.
A certificate demonstrating completion of programme

Business and Human Rights FAQ

Business and Human Rights Brochure

The Learning Experience in 6 Stages

The programme offers a detailed roadmap structured around 6 key stages. Each stage consists of multiple activities designed to foster both theoretical understanding and practical implementation of your human rights action plan.

STAGE 1 - UNDERSTANDING FUNDAMENTALS

STAGE 2 - SCOPING THE VALUE CHAIN

STAGE 3 - PRIORITIZING IMPACTS

STAGE 4 - STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

STAGE 5 - UNDERSTANDING REMEDY AND GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS

STAGE 6 - FINALIZING THE ACTION PLAN

Eligibility

Who Can Join?

Active Participants of the UN Global Compact
Companies willing to identify human rights impacts and focus on a core area of their value chain
Companies able to appoint two representatives for the Accelerator activities

Timeline

The six-month programme comprises six key stages, each with a unique focus—from understanding UN Global Compact principles to developing a comprehensive remedy plan.

2026 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Ready to Join?

Join the ranks of responsible businesses making a tangible difference in human rights. For more information, contact our Lead, Social Sustainability, Megan Grace Halferty at megan@unglobalcompact.ca.

Adhere to your corporate responsibilities and seize the opportunity to advance human rights in your business operations and supply chain. The Business & Human Rights Accelerator provides a comprehensive, collaborative, and authoritative path to accomplish just that. Is your company ready to move from commitment to action?