WHAT WE DO

We empower organizations to navigate legal frameworks, and international standards through expert advice and comprehensive assessments.

Advising organizations on the implementation of business and human rights standards

We provide expert advice to help companies align with business and human rights standards such as: EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Loi sur le Devoir de Vigilance (LdV), EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and ILO Conventions.

We help you gain a comprehensive overview of gaps between your current human rights management practices and the requirements of these legal frameworks and international standards. Our tailored recommendations empower you to address these gaps effectively, adopt proactive human rights risk management strategies, and implement corrective action plans with a clear roadmap.

Assessing Impacts

We specialize in conducting independent Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs) across diverse sectors, grounded in meaningful stakeholder engagement. As one of the most advanced tools for on-the-ground human rights due diligence, HRIAs provide a robust foundation for identifying, prioritizing, and addressing both actual and potential adverse impacts on human rights in line with UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) methodologies and criteria.

Core Features of Our HRIAs:

• Comprehensive Human Rights Scope:

A thorough review of operations against all internationally recognized human rights, as companies can potentially impact any of these rights.

• People at the Core of HRIAs:

We drive a paradigm shift by encouraging our clients to move beyond traditional business-centric perspectives and adopt a people-centered approach. The purpose of our HRIAs is to “understand the specific impacts on specific people, given a specific context of operations” (UNGP 18 – Commentary). We identify and analyze risks and impacts from the perspective of those affected, ensuring that every step—from impact assessment to harm mitigation—is grounded in their perspectives and lived experiences.

• Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement:

Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement lies at the heart of our HRIA process with a strong emphasis on prioritizing engagement with rights-holders. We see to engage directly with those most affected by business operations, as well as their legitimate representatives to ensure their perspectives shape the assessment. This approach acknowledges that affected stakeholders include both individuals within the company walls (e.g., workers, unions and other workers’ representatives, contractors) and outside the walls (e.g., indigenous peoples and non-indigenous affected communities, supply chain workers). This rights-holder-centric approach places their voices, concerns, and needs at the heart of the assessment process, ensuring they drive the development of actionable and contextually appropriate actions.

• Focus on Vulnerable Groups:

We apply a vulnerable groups lens during HRIAs to identify individuals or groups who may face heightened risks of vulnerability or marginalization. This includes, but is not limited to, migrant workers, women, children, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQIA+ community members.

Our approach is context-specific, allowing us to adapt to the unique circumstances and operational environments in which the business operates. We avoid relying on a predetermined list of vulnerable groups during the assessment, which can introduce bias and risk overlooking individuals or groups who may not commonly and easily categorized as vulnerable.

We also recognize that vulnerability is intersectional, with multiple factors interacting to create unique challenges and heightened risks. By maintaining an open-minded and flexible approach, we ensure that all potentially affected individuals and groups are identified and meaningfully considered in the assessment and mitigation processes.

• Actionable, Stakeholder-Centric Recommendations and Corrective Action Plan:

We provide clear, practical guidance on actions to prevent, mitigate, or remedy identified adverse impacts, tailored to your operational context. Our recommendations are rooted in meaningful engagement and collaboration with affected groups, ensuring that they are driven by the perspectives of those most impacted.

We also provide guidance on corrective action plans, delivering customized strategies and recommendations to address human rights risks and bridge gaps in your risk management processes. This involves creating detailed roadmaps with defined timelines and milestones to support the successful implementation of the proposed actions.