How can businesses track their positive and negative impacts on human rights?

Implementing a robust reporting system is essential for businesses to effectively track their positive and negative impacts on human rights. Such a system enables organizations to gather, analyze, and report data related to human rights issues. This includes monitoring compliance with international human rights standards, assessing the impact of business operations on local communities, and evaluating how policies and practices affect employees and stakeholders.

A reporting system can also integrate various metrics and indicators that help identify risks and opportunities related to human rights. It facilitates transparency, enabling businesses to communicate their commitments and progress to stakeholders, including investors, customers, and communities affected by their operations. Furthermore, a well-structured reporting system lays the groundwork for continuous improvement by allowing organizations to set benchmarks and track changes over time.

While customer surveys, developing partnerships with NGOs, and employee input can contribute valuable insights, they do not provide the comprehensive framework necessary to systematically track and report on impacts. Each of these components might offer pieces of information, but without a robust reporting system, businesses would struggle to obtain a holistic view of their human rights impacts.