Strengthening conflict-sensitivity and responsible security management in standards on business and human rights: DCAF-ICRC Partnership contributes to the Global Reporting Initiative’s public consultation

In February 2023, DCAF and ICRC respectively submitted two contributions to the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) public consultation on its Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) Workplan 2023-2025.

The ICRC, together with the Australian Red Cross and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology submitted recommendations that the GSSB should incorporate international humanitarian law (IHL) and conflict sensitivity into existing GRI standards, and that the GSSB develops a standalone standard on the topic. Read the full submission here.

In a separate submission, DCAF emphasized that security is a cross-cutting and essential component of human rights due diligence processes, just like corporate reporting on environmental, social and governance issues. DCAF encouraged the GSSB to mainstream security in the GRI standards. DCAF also echoed the recommendations on IHL and conflict sensitive business practices. Read the full submission here.

The GRI Standards are a comprehensive set of standards provided as a free public good for companies to report their impacts on the economy, environment, and people. For its 2023-2025 workplan, the GSSB will ensure that the GRI Standards are developed and revised in line with expectations for responsible business conduct and due diligence, as outlined in initiatives including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as other instruments from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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