{"id":201801,"date":"2016-09-01T15:41:24","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T13:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nettsteder.regjeringen.no\/ansvarlignaringsliv-en\/?p=201801"},"modified":"2018-04-12T09:19:24","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T07:19:24","slug":"successful-introduction-to-human-rights-due-diligence-for-state-agencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nettsteder.regjeringen.no\/ansvarlignaringsliv2\/news\/successful-introduction-to-human-rights-due-diligence-for-state-agencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Successful introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence for state agencies"},"content":{"rendered":"

On August 30, the Norwegian OECD National Contact Point (NCP) invited relevant state agencies to learn about the method Human Rights Due Diligence.<\/p>\n

What is expected of companies concerning human rights and responsible business conduct?<\/p>\n

The day was full excellent presentations and interesting discussions. Together, we are one step closer to a joint message about responsible business!<\/p>\n

Expectations to business and state agencies<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the past two years, the Norwegian NCP has hosted a Human Rights Due Diligence-course<\/a> for Norwegian businesses. We decided to organize a shorter version for relevant state agencies to increase their knowledge of what is expected in this field.<\/p>\n

– The government is to strengthen guidance and dialogue with companies on human rights and strengthen competence about the OECD guidelines in the public administration, said Frode Elgesem, member of the Norwegian OECD NCP.<\/p>\n

This course was a contribution to reach this goal, as stated in the government\u2019s National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights.<\/a><\/p>\n

Both Elgesem and the Secretariat of the National Contact Point by Cathrine Halsaa and Thea Bakke Husom, presented the OECD guidelines, the UN General Principles of Business and Human Rights and what it means to do due diligence.<\/p>\n

Participants from the Norwegian Export Credit Guarantee Agency (GIEK), <\/a>Export Credit Norway<\/a>, Innovation Norway<\/a>, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi) <\/a>contributed to good discussions on how we jointly can foster respect for human rights and have a joint message to businesses and other agencies.<\/p>\n

Contributions from business<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 We have to address these issues. The marked is demanding it, said Bengt Lundberg from Eltek.<\/p>\n

He was one of two business representatives who presented their work with due diligence.<\/p>\n

– We are making our entire firm sustainable. We see that it is really making a difference!, said Tone Cecilie Lie from Eurosko.<\/p>\n

Eltek<\/a> and Eurosko are two of the business participants in this year\u2019s Human Rights Due Diligence course, arranged by the National OECD Contact Point. They both shared their experiences and discussed challenges with working on how to prevent violation of human rights.<\/p>\n

The Norwegian OECD Contact Point would like to thank all participants for their contributions and involvement. We are looking forward to further cooperation!<\/p>\n

Do not hesitate to get in touch<\/a> if you wish to receive more information.<\/p>\n