The International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) is organising an online discussion on human rights in value chains. The event will take place on 10 December, the International Human Rights Day, giving the movement an opportunity to showcase action-oriented recommendations on how cooperatives and their networks could respect and promote human rights within their operations and in their sphere of influence.
Panelists will share inspiring stories and best practices related to how their cooperatives conduct Human Rights Due Diligence in their operations. They will also encourage cooperatives that are yet to put this into practice to align their operations with Cooperative Values and Principles, United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Participants will also explore the main challenges that businesses go through in their practice and efforts to promote human rights in their sphere of influence and offer suggestions, good practice examples, and resources to consult for more information.
Cooperatives, human-centred enterprises
Respecting human rights is a key issue for the cooperative movement. In 2018, ICA members approved a declaration on decent work and against harassment at work places. They committed to respect, promote and act diligently to support the fundamental tenets of decent work, namely freedom of association and full recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; an end to child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in employment and every form of work.
The movement’s commitment falls in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which acknowledge that companies should undertake human rights due diligence measures to ensure their operations do not contribute to human rights abuses; instead, they should respect them.
What is the ICETT?
The International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) is an initiative of the International Cooperative Alliance launched in 2018 to strengthen cooperatives' entrepreneurial performance by seeking and using innovative ideas, research, education, and cooperation to address the challenges that cooperative enterprises are facing.
Download the concept note below!
Photo credit @timmossholder.
