OWLS CONSULTING GROUP OWLS CONSULTING GROUP
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY サステナビリティ戦略

Human Rights Policy and Due Diligence

＜Examples of how we help our clients＞

  • Human rights risk assessment based on characteristics of the clients’ business & supply chain
  • Human rights due diligence throughout the supply chain
  • Internal and external training on “business and human rights”

The Global Demand for Human Rights

Since the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2011, there has been increasing pressure on companies to consider human rights in their supply chains. The UNGPs identify “the corporate responsibility to respect Human Rights” as one of the three pillars of the UNGPs, which requires companies to address not only human rights abuses that they directly cause, but also abuses that they contribute to or are directly linked to.(e.g., forced labor within supplier chains).
In response to this, in recent years, there has been an accelerating legislative and societal movement, mainly in Europe and the U.S., to require companies to conduct “human rights due diligence” (i.e., to identify risks of human rights violations associated with their business activities and take measures to prevent or mitigate them), which has also had an impact on Japanese companies operating in the region.
In addition, in February 2022, the EU announced the draft of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) Directive, which will make human rights and environmental due diligence mandatory. The CSDD Directive will impose an obligation on companies in Europe, with a turnover or number of employees exceeding a certain level, to prevent and reduce negative impacts on human rights and the environment through their business activities. After CSDD comes into effect, EU member states will be obliged to legislate it in their own countries.
In response to these international trends, the Japanese government published the “Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains” in September 2022. Based on this guideline, METI issued “Reference Material on Practical Approaches for Business Enterprises to Respect Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains” in April 2023. We provided various information and materials in the process of preparing these papers. (For our report, please click here.)
In response to these actions taken by the governments and the international communities, Japanese companies are required to respond promptly to take the actions regarding Human Rights.

Our Approach

We have assisted numerous major global companies in the past to conduct human rights due diligence and most of our consultants have completed the SA8000 basic trainer course, which is the international certification standards for social accountability that encourages organizations to develop, maintain and apply socially acceptable practices in the workplace.
Based on our profound knowledge and expertise, we provide the comprehensive support for the client’s action towards human rights.

Why OWLS?

1. Expertise in “Strategy” × “Human Rights & Sustainability”

We can bring both business and social sector perspective into our consulting support.
  • As strategy consultants, many of our consultants have experience in global strategic consulting firms and have profound understanding of corporate strategy, business strategy, and supply chains. We help you develop the realistic and effective strategy that are not just armchair theories.
  • As human rights & sustainability consultants, many of our consultants completed the SA8000 and several of them have worked with NGOs/NPOs (e.g., Fair Trade Label Japan, Ethical Association, Grameen Japan) as board members or executive directors which enable us to bring the social sector perspective.
Our CEO, Keisuke Hanyuda, has profound experience in supporting the policy making in the topic of “business and human rights”.
Our team has also provided support and discussions to other ministries (e.g., Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, etc.) on the same topic.

2. Leading numerous projects on “Business and Human Rights”

We have assisted a wide range of industries including manufacturing (transportation, electronics, industrial machinery, consumer goods, apparel, food, etc.), infrastructure and IT/media.

Major Projects’ Themes (Human Rights)

  • Human rights action planning
  • Human rights policy development
  • Human rights due diligence (identification and assessment of adhere human rights risks)
  • Internal/group/supplier training
  • Development of training content (video + handbook)
  • Discussion with board members and directors
  • Compliance with the law for the elimination of discrimination against persons with disabilities
  • Development of procurement guidelines including human rights and sustainability perspective

3. High Reliability in “Business and Human Rights”

We are the leading consultancy in business and human rights in Japan and have numerous media coverage including the seminars sponsored by METI, events and the media interviews taken by the economical Japanese newspapers and TVs.

4. Extensive Partnership with NGOs/NPOs

We are the only consulting firm in Japan with an extensive network in the social sector, working closely with many NGOs/NPOs. We initiate cross-sectoral collaborations with companies wishing to create a dialogue with the non-profit sector and the organizations.

Our Partners (Excerption)

Our Reports

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