Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10, reminds us of the universal rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled. It marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in the wake of World War II in 1949.
The declaration serves as a global standard for the people of all nations. It is also the foundation of the current United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the human rights listed in the declaration include life, liberty, self-expression, education, freedom from slavery and torture, as well as access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The theme for Human Rights Day this year is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” which is a stirring call for practical action by everyone. Entrepreneurs have an opportunity to contribute by assessing how their own businesses or nonprofits protect human rights and then taking concrete action to integrate improvements, track adoption and communicate concerns and impact. Entrepreneurs can do this at different levels, starting with their venture as well as throughout their supply chain.
Human Rights and Entrepreneurship
Stephanie Vasquez, owner of Fair Trade Café in downtown Phoenix, is a great example of an entrepreneur who is committed to human rights within her own business as well as her supply chain. In an interview with DTPHX, she highlights how she learned about the human rights issues surrounding the coffee trade and set out to create a business that exclusively sources coffee certified as Fairtrade. This independent certification audits producers and traders to assure compliance with economic, social and environmental standards. Stephanie is also a passionate supporter of Latina labor rights and founded Empower Latina Leaders in Arizona (ELLA) to promote access to equal pay, entrepreneurship, and opportunities. She has infused these principles throughout her standard operating procurers.
Stephanie has proven that you can do well by doing good. Fair Trade Café is now one of the longest-standing coffee shops in Downtown Phoenix.
Here are three steps you can take with your business to make sure you preserve self-expression and protect human rights.
Make sure your venture has thorough written standards
The simplest place to begin is with your venture and assessing whether you have written standards in place that protect your employees and guide business operations. This can be as simple as a code of conduct, including specific policies and practices within your standard operating procedures. To help you get started, the United Nations Development Program and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have created a Sample Code of Conduct specifically for small and medium enterprises that can easily be adapted.
As a first step, check out the full template here. Then, adapt it for your specific venture, industry and context. Level up your approach by also creating metrics or assessments to ensure your venture is following the standards you set. This article from the Institute of Business Ethics has a simple guide for creating metrics.
Map your supply chain and initial concerns
Supply chain responsibility goes beyond simply ensuring that goods and services are delivered on time. It involves taking proactive steps to respect human rights, uphold labor standards, minimize environmental harm and contribute positively to the communities where businesses operate. Overhauling supply chain practices can be a big undertaking, so it can be helpful to initially focus on simply understanding your supply chain and potential areas of concern. Do your suppliers use slave labor, pollute the environment or use illegal conflict minerals in the components they sell to you? Understanding your supply chain risks is important because it can serve as the foundation for additional decisions around supplier selection, contracts, monitoring and collaboration.
Keep things simple by listing all of your venture’s direct suppliers along with any contractors and service providers (name and locations). Then, review the potential high-level risks at a country and industry level using free reports from organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations. You can also access databases like IBIS World and Economist Intelligence Unit, for free at your local library. You may also consider engaging directly with suppliers to learn if they have their own code of conduct and if they have third-party monitoring/assessment. Level up your approach by also prioritizing these potential risks based on how serious impacts are, how widespread the impact is, how hard it would be to ameliorate and how likely it is to occur. This article from the Project Management Institute has an in-depth look at conducting risk assessments.
Collaborate with peers and suppliers for greater impact
Collaboration is a cornerstone of successful supply chain responsibility. Addressing complex issues like labor rights violations, environmental degradation and ethical sourcing is challenging for any one business to tackle alone. By working with peers in your industry and building strong partnerships with suppliers, you can share resources, amplify your impact and drive systemic change across supply chains.
Research if your industry has groups or organizations that are already tackling supply chain responsibility issues. Then, begin building relationships with suppliers by opening lines of communication and understanding shared values and goals. Level up your approach by also collaborating on a shared action plan. This article from the World Economic Forum has an in-depth look at the components of a thorough shared action plan.
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While this blog post is looking at a few practical first steps to get started, other resources from organizations like B-Corp and BSR can help entrepreneurs conduct a more exhaustive implementation of human rights principles. Check out this article from B-Corp and this article from BSR to learn more about in-depth approaches. |
Let’s take action!
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or leading a global enterprise, the journey to a more responsible supply chain starts with a single step. Begin by mapping your supply chain, setting standards and engaging your suppliers. With free tools and templates, the path to ethical and sustainable practices has never been more accessible.
Together, we can create a world where every link in the supply chain reflects respect for people and the planet—turning Human Rights Day into a year-round commitment to dignity and fairness.
Connect with a community of businesses and business owners who care about the community at one of Edson E+I Institute’s events.
