Ruggie, John. 2007. Report of the Special Representative of the SG on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. "Human rights impact assessments - resolving key methodological questions".
- Objective: To lay out HRIA that can be used by businesses
- Key characteristics: Focused on all human rights, ex-ante analysis, designed for use by businesses
- Brief Summary: Measures how business activities impact human rights, so that those most directly involved and affected (such as local communities, governments, employees) can intervene to enhance the positive aspects, and avoid or mitigate the negative impacts and risks, thus contributing to human rights' fulfillment.
- Best used for: Analysis of potential impacts on human rights of corporate activities
- Data needed: Human rights law and obligations, business policies
- Possible disadvantages: Still too early to see if HRIA for businesses actually work in preventing human rights abuses; suggests prioritizing human rights risks, which could be problematic considering the indivisibility and interdependence of human rights.
- Tested?: Yes, one HRIA completed and published, and others are in the process of being completed.
- Going forward: Because HRIA is not an end in itself, how to promote manner in which those involved use the findings from the HRIA and engage with the process?
- Complementary tools: HRIA that are not specifically meant for businesses. Analyses that focus on ex-post analysis to determine whether HRIA had an impact.