UNDP-OHCHR TOOLKIT NHRIs can play an important transitional role in ensuring accountability and combating impunity by documenting and investigating violations of international law. NHRIs can monitor and record violations during both conflict and authoritarian rule and transitional periods. These efforts can support future prosecution initiatives, truth seeking and truth telling bodies, reparations measures and vetting processes. NHRIs can assist victims by ensuring that they have equal and effective access to justice; adequate, effective and prompt reparation for harm suffered; and access to relevant information concerning violations and reparation mechanisms. NHRIs can also assist victims and witnesses with measures such as relocation and resettlement.34 In some countries, the NHRI itself may not have the mandate to undertake the transitional justice process, but may nevertheless work with and comment on the work of other situations, to ensure that human rights are respected. >> Example: NHRI Role in Transitional Justice in Rwanda In Rwanda, several government institutions were established to support reconciliation and transitional justice after the 1994 genocide. The Unity and Reconciliation Commission has a lead in promoting awareness of reconciliation through public programs. The National Human Rights Commission, plays a cooperative role in reviewing these processes on an ongoing basis, including attending and preparing reports on human rights aspects of many of these processes. 3.11 NHRIs and Business The connections between international human rights law, business and domestic application of human rights standards have been in place for years. In 2000, for example, the UN Global Compact was launched for companies committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a leadership initiative endorsed by chief executives, it seeks to align business operations and strategies everywhere with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. It is the State’s duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation, and adjudication. NHRIs can play a vital role in advancing human rights in practice and supporting the State in meeting this obligation. As stated in the 2008 report of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative (SRSG) for Business and Human Rights, ‘[the] actual and potential importance of [this area] cannot be overstated’.35 In Resolution 8/7, adopted in June 2008, the Human Rights Council recognized the need to protect all human rights from abuses by, or involving, transnational corporations or other business enterprises. The Council also renewed the mandate of the Special Representative on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises to 2011.  According to a survey conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of the SRSG, many NHRIs engage in business and human rights issues in some respect, though this remains a limited area of activity for most. Some commissions do handle complaints involving alleged corporate abuse of human rights, for example as regards non-discrimination and labour rights, while others have no limits on either the rights issues or the types of business involved in a complaint. In 2009, the ICC established a Working Group on Human Rights and Business, with the following mandate: 11 Strategic planning (facilitating the inclusion of business and human rights issues and providing for joint NHRI programming); 11 Capacity building and resource sharing (facilitating skills development of staff and providing a platform for NHRIs to exchange best practices and tools); and 11 Agenda setting and outreach (facilitating the participation of the ICC and NHRIs in key debates at the international, regional and domestic levels in relation to business and human rights). In June 2009, the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) was nominated to represent the European region of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights of the ICC. The Human Rights and Business Project is a department of The Danish Institute for Human Rights devoted to business and its impact on human rights. Additional information and resources can be obtained at: http://www.humanrightsbusiness.org Finally, the ICC identified the theme of Human Rights and Business as the main theme of the international conference of NHRIs in 2010. Adapted from the OHCHR Guidance Note on Transitional Justice, September 27 2008. 34 Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights for Business and Human Rights to NHRIs worldwide. 28 January 2009. 35 48