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operations. Expertise can be drawn from various sources, ranging from
credible online or written resources to consultation with recognized experts.
The statement of commitment should be publicly available. It should be
communicated actively to entities with which the enterprise has contractual
relationships; others directly linked to its operations, which may include
State security forces; investors; and, in the case of operations with significant
human rights risks, to the potentially affected stakeholders.
Internal communication of the statement and of related policies and
procedures should make clear what the lines and systems of accountability
will be, and should be supported by any necessary training for personnel
in relevant business functions.
Just as States should work towards policy coherence, so business enterprises
need to strive for coherence between their responsibility to respect human
rights and policies and procedures that govern their wider business
activities and relationships. This should include, for example, policies
and procedures that set financial and other performance incentives for
personnel; procurement practices; and lobbying activities where human
rights are at stake.
Through these and any other appropriate means, the policy statement
should be embedded from the top of the business enterprise through all its
functions, which otherwise may act without awareness or regard for human
rights.
Human rights due diligence
17. In order to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how they address
their adverse human rights impacts, business enterprises should carry
out human rights due diligence. The process should include assessing
actual and potential human rights impacts, integrating and acting upon
the findings, tracking responses, and communicating how impacts are
addressed. Human rights due diligence:
(a)
Should cover adverse human rights impacts that the business
enterprise may cause or contribute to through its own activities, or
which may be directly linked to its operations, products or services
by its business relationships;
Select target paragraph3
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