IICA Launches Business & Human Rights Program in collaboration with UNDP and EU

The ‘IICA Certified Business and Human Rights Professional’ program under Ministry of Corporate Affairs, provides practical insights and skills to the participants on the deeper implications of human rights in a business landscape. IICA is responsible for induction and in-service training of Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) officers, capacity-building and training programmes, policy advisory functions, public outreach and stakeholder consultations through seminars, conferences and forums.

IndianBureaucracy, Manesar, February 21, 2024: The School of Business Environment at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, recently organised the inaugural session of its flagship capacity-building program, the IICA Certified Business and Human Rights Professional. The event took place in Manesar on February 1, 2024 and saw active collaboration with Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the support of the European Union.

The primary objective of the program, as outlined by Shri Praveen Kumar, Director General and CEO of IICA, is to instill a good understanding of national instruments within the Indian Constitution and other laws that promote human rights. Emphasis was placed on the significance of ethical practices in business supply chains, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable sections of society.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Garima Dadhich, Head of the School of Business Environment, highlighted the need for creating champions in the field of Business and Human Rights (BHR) within businesses. The event aimed to serve as a platform to foster collaboration and shared responsibility among corporate professionals, focusing on sustainability and ethical business practices.

Ms. Nusrat Khan, National Specialist BHR at UNDP, stressed the importance of human rights in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), citing that nearly 90 percent of SDG targets are based on human rights principles. The collaboration with UNDP aims to integrate human rights considerations into corporate strategies to foster long-term sustainable development.

Adding a practical dimension to the event, Ms Shubha Sekhar Regional Director Human Rights Coca-Cola, shared insights into addressing reputational and legal risks in businesses. She underscored the clarity needed regarding the roles of business and human rights professionals within organisations.

Shri Viraf Mehta, Adjunct Faculty at IICA, highlighted the importance of adopting a human rights approach in achieving broader sustainability goals. His address emphasised the interconnectedness of human rights, business practices, and overall sustainable development.

Dr Ravi Raj Atrey shared insights into the three-month online learning and certification program on Business and Human Rights offered by IICA. He announced the nominations for the upcoming third batch of the ‘IICA Certified Business & Human Rights Professional’ program, encouraging interested individuals to apply through the official IICA website, www.iica.nic.in.

The event saw the active participation of 30 corporate representatives from diverse domains such as sustainability, business and human rights, corporate social responsibility (CSR), human resources, among others. Directors on boards of various companies also attended as registered participants, contributing to the diversity of perspectives and experiences shared during the program. The collaborative effort of IICA, UNDP, and the European Union marked a significant milestone in advancing the integration of human rights principles into the corporate landscape for sustainable and ethical business practices.