UN Releases Draft Principles On Corporate Social Responsibility

On November 22, John Ruggie, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Business and Human Rights, published draft guiding principles for the implementation of the U.N.'s "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework. The draft principles are intended to clarify how companies and states can operationalize the U.N. "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework "by taking practical steps to address business impacts on the human rights of individuals." Public comments are being accepted by way of an online consultation forum until January 31.

Stikeman Elliott provided pro bono assistance to the Special Representative in the development of the draft guiding principles. Stikeman Elliott partner Ed Waitzer recently considered the draft principles in an op-ed published in the Globe and Mail. According to Mr. Waitzer, the draft