Human Rights Business Policy

The Human Rights Business Policy is a voluntary framework based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). It establishes expectations for organizations to respect, protect, and remedy human rights risks that may arise from their operations, including the design, development, and deployment of AI systems.

As AI technologies increasingly affect access to services, freedom of expression, and personal privacy, this policy helps organizations align with global ethical standards and mitigate human rights risks.

What is the Human Rights Business Policy?

This policy operationalizes the UNGPs across the AI lifecycle and is relevant to any organization building or using AI systems with potential social or individual impact. The policy outlines the following expectations:

  1. Commit to respecting internationally recognized human rights as part of organizational policy and governance.
  2. Conduct human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks associated with AI systems, including impacts on privacy, bias, freedom from discrimination, and access to services.
  3. Engage with affected stakeholders and communities to understand potential harms or unintended consequences from AI applications.
  4. Ensure transparency around how AI decisions are made and how human rights risks are assessed and addressed.
  5. Establish clear mechanisms for grievance and remedy where individuals or groups are harmed by the use of AI technologies.
  6. Integrate human rights considerations into procurement, vendor contracts, and partnerships involving AI systems.
  7. Regularly assess and revise internal processes to improve alignment with evolving human rights standards and AI ethics principles.

This policy applies to all AI systems regardless of risk tier and is particularly important for high-impact use cases such as hiring, surveillance, lending, education, and healthcare.

Why is the Human Rights Business Policy Important?

  1. Alignment with International Standards
    The UNGPs are the globally recognized baseline for responsible business conduct. Aligning AI policies with them supports ethical development and stakeholder trust.

  2. Mitigating Ethical and Legal Risks
    AI systems can pose risks to civil liberties, equity, and dignity. This policy helps organizations proactively address these challenges through structured due diligence and stakeholder consultation.

  3. Strengthening Social License to Operate
    By embedding human rights into AI governance, companies demonstrate responsibility, which enhances reputation and public trust.

  4. Improving AI Design and Outcomes
    Stakeholder engagement and rights-based evaluations can lead to better, fairer systems that serve diverse user needs and avoid harm.

  5. Enabling Accountability and Remediation
    Clear governance structures and grievance mechanisms are essential for resolving harm and improving the long-term sustainability of AI systems.

By complying with the Human Rights Business Policy, organizations strengthen trust in their AI systems, align with legal and ethical standards, and demonstrate a commitment to responsible and transparent AI governance.