'Business Rules for Human Rights: 15 Years Later'

'The United Nations once made a rare unanimous decision by approving the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Fifteen years on, that agreement feels less like a milestone and more like a reminder that companies still owe people respect. Before the Guiding Principles, the idea that firms could be held accountable for human rights was a hot debate with no clear answer. John Ruggie, who led the UN effort, used evidence and careful conversation to create a simple yet powerful framework: states must protect rights, businesses must respect them, and victims should have access to remedies. This structure was built through years of negotiation among governments, companies, NGOs and affected communities, showing that consensus is possible when people listen. Today the world is more fractured than ever. Global politics, shrinking trust in institutions, and opaque supply chains make the Guiding Principles even more critical. Companies face lawsuits linked to human rights, lenders add risk fees for poor practices, and community protests can halt entire operations. The Principles were never meant for easy times; they anticipate a world where governments are uneven, markets dominate and ordinary people lack power.

Ruggie’s earlier work on how global institutions mixed social promises with free trade explains why many feel alienated by globalization. The Principles try to rebuild that social contract, ensuring market gains come with responsibility for human costs. Their influence shows up in new laws like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and similar national rules that turn expectations into legal duties. Even when some firms back away from due diligence under political pressure, they only increase their risk and give competitors an edge in regulation compliance and supplier trust. The debate has shifted from whether companies should be responsible to how they are held accountable, a shift Ruggie made possible by forging inclusive coalitions while keeping intellectual rigor. The Guiding Principles are a living tool, tested in harsher times than those that birthed them. Their adoption by businesses is still a work in progress, but the legacy of Ruggie’s approach continues to guide those who seek to align profit with people. '

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