The 2013 Top Ten List of Business and Human Rights Issues was published by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012.

1. Embedding respect for human rights across all business relationships

Growing awareness of the human rights impacts of business relationship activities will command greater attention on the corporate responsibility agenda over the coming year. Images of children stitching footballs and women bent over sewing machines for long hours have previously spurred attention to the question of the responsibility of businesses for what happens in their value chains

2. Expanding action to combat forced labour and human trafficking

Efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labour will continue to play a growing role on the agenda for responsible business during 2013. The California Transparency Act and a new US executive order strengthening protections against trafficking in US public procurement will further focus attention on exploitation and abuse in company supply chains

3. Tackling challenges of dual-use internet-based technologies that may undermine privacy rights and freedom of expression

In the past year, international scrutiny of companies in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has increased in part because of revelations that several companies had provided surveillance technology to governments which undermined the rights of privacy and freedom of expression. While some companies actively marketed such technologies, others have struggled with the dilemma of supplying technology, which can have ‘dual-‘ and ‘multiple-use’... 

4. Advancing uptake of the UN Guiding Principles in key enabling sectors including finance, ICT and infrastructure

The past year saw growing awareness of the instrumental nature of key business sectors in ensuring respect for human rights. Best understood is the role project finance plays in this area – whether in the form of publicly provided finance (such as through the International Finance Corporation) or private provided finance... 

5. Leveraging government as an economic actor through public procurement policies that ensure respect for human rights

Creating coherence between human rights policy commitments and procurement is a well-recognised challenge for companies around the world. As the new joint report by IHRB and GBI on respect for human rights in business relationships points out, procurement departments are often incentivised to select business partners who offer the lowest price, and do not necessarily take account of their company’s own sustainability requirements, including its human rights policies... 

6. Renewing efforts to protect lives in the work-place

Factory fires over recent months in Pakistan (with at least 262 deaths in a much publicized Karachi incident) and Bangladesh (with at least 124 deaths in the November Dhaka fire) – are painful reminders that workplace rights continue to be violated on a massive scale, including in factories supplying international brands... 

7. Mitigating the ‘resource curse’ by preventing negative human rights impacts of oil and gas exploration

How can countries blessed by nature but too often cursed by human nature, best ensure that exploitation of oil, gas, minerals and other resources benefit all their people and not just a few? One answer involves greater focus on potential human rights impacts, starting with the earliest stages of the resource cycle: those of pre-exploration and exploration... 

8. Linking respect for human rights to calls for greater transparency in lobbying by businesses

Lobbying has long been recognised as a legitimate tool for companies and other societal actors who seek to have their voices heard in public policy debates. In recent years, debates have grown around the extent to which ethical principles and greater transparency in lobbying are necessary for the purpose of protecting the broader public interest and safeguarding corporate reputations and legitimacy... 

9. Ensuring responsible investment in conflict-affected and 'high risk' areas

The partial lifting of sanctions on Myanmar, the emergence of South Sudan as the world’s newest nation, and political transformations in northern Africa have made these emerging economies potentially attractive destinations for foreign investment... 

10. Addressing the impacts of land and water grabs linked to transport, fishing, security, mineral extraction and other sectors

Global concern over sustaining food supplies and maintaining access to water resources has led many businesses to increase investments in land and agriculture. Companies investing in infrastructure such as roads or airports, or developing extractive industries, or building tourism projects, also need access to land...