Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, accompanied by Dr. Ranjit Singh, Joint Secretary(P&A), NHRC, India attended the Biennial meeting of Commonwealth Forum of NHRIs, CFNHRI and Commonwealth Women Forum at London from 16th -18th April, 2018. During the course of discussions on 'Business and Human Rights', Justice Dattu shared his thoughts on the global as well as Indian challenges in seeking a balance between the prerequisites of business ensuring protection of human rights.
He said that the NHRC, India had already commissioned a study on "Developing a Code of Ethics for Indian Industry", corporate social responsibility is a dimension thereof. He also touched upon the Indian challenge in the face of the country becoming the fastest growing economies in the world and the issues of chasm between organized and unorganized sector, the wage disparities, facilities and occupational hazards, displacements, undermining the issues of health, life, liberty and dignity of workers.
Justice Dattu said that as the Focal Point for 'Business and Human Rights' of the CFNHRI, NHRC, India has been working diligently to promote respect for human rights within the business fraternity and monitor violations and human rights abuses by various types of business activities.
He also dwelt upon the initiatives taken by the NHRC, India in terms of engaging in dialogue with the different stakeholders to evolve common understanding on practices under a 'National Action Plan' to be followed by the government agencies as well as the business entities to ensure that human interests and related concerns are not allowed to be burnt at the altar of business opportunities.
The Commission has recently commissioned a research study on "Corporate Duty to Respect Human Rights in Indian Context: An Empirical Study on the State of Human Rights Practices Based on Ruggie's Framework in Business Firms in India" to IIT Bombay, Mumbai. The study will attempt to empirically examine the state of human rights practices of business firms with different ownerships in India based on Ruggie's framework of "Protect, Respect and Remedy". The Commission has also called for a research project on the subject of 'Business and Human Rights'. And as a way forward , it has been emphasizing upon strengthening of legal framework as well strict compliance thereof to ensure human rights remain protected even as the country and businesses progress.