Check out practical actions to help apply human rights within your company

In the corporate world, respect for human rights is not just a legal obligation, but a strategic differentiator. Companies that adopt fair and inclusive practices build a solid reputation, attract talent and win over engaged consumers. More than that, they help transform society, ensuring that workers, customers and communities are treated with dignity and respect.

Adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact reinforces this commitment. There are ten universal principles, derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.  

Principle 1 requires companies to support and respect internationally recognized human rights. Principle 2 stresses that companies should not participate in human rights violations. But in practice, how does this translate into day-to-day business?

Human rights in business in practice

Incorporating human rights in companies into action strategies strengthens the organization’s reputation, attracts consumers and creates a fairer and more inclusive working environment. Respect for these rights also has a positive impact on productivity, as employees value companies that adopt ethical and responsible principles.

Practices such as ensuring safe working conditions, combating harassment and discrimination, and promoting diversity and inclusion are fundamental for companies to be aligned with these principles. In addition, it is essential that they monitor their supply chains to avoid colluding with labor or environmental abuses.

Here are some examples of concrete actions: 

• Create clear policies on equal opportunities, respect for diversity and combating moral and sexual harassment;
• Carry out training so that leaders and employees understand the importance of human rights in the workplace;

Monitoring the supply chain, ensuring that partners and suppliers are also aligned with good practices;

• Create a confidential and efficient reporting channel, so that abuses and irregularities can be reported and corrected quickly;
• Implement diversity and inclusion programs, expanding the hiring of women, black people, LGBTQIAP+ and people with disabilities;
• Supporting third sector institutions that work for social inclusion. 

Ramacrisna’s commitment to the Global Compact 

As a signatory of the Global Compact, the Ramacrisna Institute follows the Ten Principles in its daily practices, reaffirming its commitment to contributing to a fairer and more sustainable world. This advance is another step towards strengthening the sustainable and social practices of Ramacrisna, which, throughout its history, has already developed several projects that benefit thousands of people. 

In the field of human rights, Ramacrisna seeks to guarantee dignity and social inclusion through projects aimed at educating and training people in vulnerable situations. By providing equal opportunities for personal and professional development, the Institute combats exclusion and promotes respect for fundamental rights.

Ramacrisna also invests in continuously raising awareness among its employees about the importance of human rights in the workplace. It also maintains an open dialog to reinforce values such as empathy and mutual respect, ensuring that its internal actions reflect the principles it defends in its social projects. 

To ensure a safe and ethical environment, it provides a confidential and transparent reporting channel, accessible to all employees and the community. This mechanism allows irregularities to be reported anonymously, ensuring that cases of harassment, discrimination or other violations are promptly investigated and corrected. In this way, the Institute reaffirms its commitment to an organizational culture based on integrity, justice and respect for human rights.

Remember that a commitment to human rights in companies goes beyond legal compliance: it is a strategic and ethical choice that strengthens the company’s reputation and generates positive social impacts.

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