Sources:
International Bill of Rights: This includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), along with two covenants :

• The International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

– Customary international law

The Role of Business in Human Rights
Business enterprises operating under international and national standards can contribute significantly to sustainable development. They can facilitate access to social and economic opportunities and help create avenues for shared prosperity. However, business opeations can also negatively impact human rights, particularly affecting vulnerable groups.

This is where the Business and Human Rights (BHRT) framework plays a critical role. It sets international standards for identifying, addressing, preventing and mitigating the negative human rights impacts of business activities and offers a pathway for improving corporate practices.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Righs

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) are the global standard for preventing and addressing business-related human rights harms. Developed by, Professor John Ruggie, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, they were endorsed unanimously by the Human Rights Council through Resolution 17/4 on 16 June 2011.

The UNGPs outline three core pilars :

• The State Duty to Protect: Governments must safeguard human rights by enacting and enforcing appropriate laws, policies, and institutions.
• The Corporate Responsibility to Respect: Businesses must avoid infringing on human rights and address any adverse impacts with which they are involved.
• Access to Remedy: Both states and businesses must ensure that victims of business-related human rights abuses have access to effective remedies.

Why Business and Human Rights Matter
Many businesses traditionally view human rights as the responsibility of the state. However, integrating human rights into business policies, culture, and everyday operations is essential. Doing so strengthens corporate governance, reduces risks, enhances reputation, and contributes to long-term success —not just for shareholders, but for all stakeholders, by improving overall impact on people’s well-being and on the planet.

Ensuring that effective mechanisms are in place for affected individuals and communities to access remedies is a vital component of responsible business conduct.

Insights from BHRT’s Work in Tanzania

Experience from Business and Human Rights Tanzania (BHRT) shows that many businesses still lack awareness of the connection between their activities and human rights. Often, companies take positive steps, such as improving worker safety or supporting community projects, without explicitly integrating these efforts into a human rights strategy.

Additionally, there remains a critical gap in understanding the necessity of prioritizing human rights at all levels of business operations. For example, a holding company may comply with all relevant laws and regulations but still face operational, reputational, and legal risks if its subsidiaries or contractors are involved in human rights abuses, such as environmental pollution, inadequate compensation in case of land acquisition, gender-based discrimination or violence, or unsafe working conditions.

These observations highlight the need for comprehensive training focused on business and human rights in Tanzania. By enhancing awareness and understanding in this area, businesses can align their operations more closely with human rights principles, ultimately benefiting both their organisation and the communities they impact.