UN FORUM SERIES – asking the basic questions: are voluntary standard-setting initiatives protecting human rights?

This post was contributed by Amelia Evans, Co-Founder of MSI Integrity, and Stephen Winstanley, Coordinating Attorney at MSI Integrity. Over the last two decades, voluntary standard-setting initiatives have proliferated, becoming one of the most popular tools for addressing the human rights impacts of global business activities. These initiatives have accomplished something significant: they have established voluntary human rights standards for every major global industry, from finance to agriculture, technology to clothing. Indeed, over 180 standard-setting initiatives that address social, ethical, or environmental issues have now been mapped.