Universal Periodic Review

Develop a NAP on economy and human rights

Proponent:

Remarks to progress by Liga (last modified Dec 31, 2024):

Regrettably, however, there is no National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights in line with the UN Guiding Principles. The implementation of such a plan has so far failed to materialise.   In 2016, the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights published the final Guidelines for National Action Plans, which are the result of an open, global consultation process involving states, businesses, civil society, national human rights institutions and academia. These guidelines build on the Working Group’s 2014 report to the UN General Assembly on National Action Plans (see Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, 2014: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/266624/b51c16faf1b3424d7efa060e8aaa8130/un-leitprinzipien-de-data.pdf). The Working Group has engaged intensively with governments on this topic, both through a survey in 2014 and through an online consultation on the content elements of a National Action Plan.   The UN Working Group encourages all states to develop, adopt and regularly update a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. This plan is central to the dissemination and implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The responsibility to introduce such plans lies within the scope of states‘ obligations in relation to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.   Unfortunately, such initiatives have not yet taken place in Austria and implementation remains outstanding. This raises important questions about the prioritisation and implementation of these fundamental measures aimed at protecting and promoting human rights in the context of business activities;