This presentation describes objective and contents of the Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal, a free website that helps companies identify, assess and address human rights risks in the countries where they operate. The Country Risk Portal will be launched at CountryRiskPortal.org on 1 Dec., 2010.

1. The Human Rights and Business
Country Risk Portal
CountryRiskPortal.org
Portal@humanrights.dk

2.  About DIHR
 Why Country Risk?
 What is the Country Risk Portal?
 Full Portal and pilot year
 Country Risk Briefing contents
 Feedback and discussion

3. The Danish Institute
for Human Rights

4. The Danish Institute for Human Rights
National Human Rights Institution
Founded 1987
National and International Mandate

5. The Danish Institute for Human Rights
Human Rights and Business Department
Established 1999
Corporate engagement
Research and tool development
Capacity building

6. Why country risk?

7. Why country risk?
Country Conditions Impact Operations
Characteristics of local markets create human rights risks for companies

8. Why country risk?
Country Conditions Impact Operations
Characteristics of local markets create human rights risks for companies
SECURITY FORCES
Excessive use of force  Unlawful equipment  Political affiliations
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Privacy  Electoral rights  Health/education services  Regulatory environment
LAND MANAGEMENT CONTRACTORS
Legal titles  Compensation Support services  Recruitment  Construction
PRODUCTS LEGAL AFFAIRS
Unlawful use  Unintended misuse Prosecuting minors  Entrenched discrimination
PROCUREMENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Supplier working conditions  Migrant labour Violence  Informal justice
COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES EMPLOYMENT
Water use  Pollution Child labor  Employee housing

9. Why country risk?
Current Approaches
Company country risk assessment practices
LARGE ENTERPRISES
Small and medium-size companies lack resources to assess country risk and
develop country-specific policies and procedures
NO SYSTEMATIC FRAMEWORK
Companies lack standard procedures for investigating direct risk and possible
complicity with state violations
REPUTATIONAL RISK FOCUS
Companies focus on the issues where they are vulnerable to public pressure, and
disregard issues where they may have greatest impact on human rights

10. What is the Country Risk Portal?

11. What is the Country Risk Portal?
In a Nutshell
The Country Risk Portal is a free website that helps
companies identify, assess and address human rights
risks in their operations and supply chains.

12. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts

13. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk  What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?

14. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk  What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?
Risk 
Company What is the relevance of these risks to
my operations and supply chain?

15. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk  What are the major human rights risks
where I do business or have suppliers?
Risk 
Company What is the relevance of these risks to
my operations and supply chain?
Diligence 
Due How can I manage risk, prevent
violations and avoid complicity?

16. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Country
Risk  What are the major human rights risks
Identify
where I do business or have suppliers?
Risk 
Company What is the relevance of these risks to
Assess
my operations and supply chain?
Diligence 
Due How can I manage risk, prevent
Address
violations and ensure non-complicity?

17. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
Country
Risk 
Risk 
Company
Diligence 
Due

18. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
Country
Risk  Property Ownership
VULNERABLE GROUP: WOMEN
Risk 
Company While women’s right to property is recognised
in the constitution, customary law requires
women to obtain permission from a male
Diligence 
Due guardian to acquire land.

19. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
Country
Risk  
DIRECT VIOLATIONS
Societal structures in rural areas may
exclude women from compensation for
Risk 
Company appropriated land

COMPLICITY RISK
The company may purchase land that has
Diligence 
Due been cleared of its previous inhabitants by
the government or other third parties

20. What is the Country Risk Portal?
Identify, Assess, Address Framework
The Portal describes human rights risks, pinpoints their relevance
to company operations and suggests prevention and mitigation
efforts
Example: Kenya
Country
Risk 
Risk 
Company  COMPANY POLICIES
Recognize women’s right to property under
national and international law
Diligence 
Due
 COMPANY PROCEDURES
Investigate customary ownership of land
Establish grievance procedures

21. How is the
Portal Different?

22. How is the Portal Different?
1 Comprehensive Coverage
The Portal addresses all internationally
recognized human rights

23. How is the Portal Different?
Comprehensive Coverage
CORRUPTION HEALTH POLITICAL RIGHTS
The right to take part in government The right to health The right to take part in
government; The right to freedom
CHILD LABOUR HOUSING of opinion, expression, thought,
The right to education; The right to work The right to adequate housing conscience and religion
and just and favourable conditions of work
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE PRIVACY
DISCRIMINATION The right to participate in cultural The right to privacy
The right to freedom from discrimination life; The right to freedom from
discrimination PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
ENVIRONMENT The right to own property
The right to health; The right to adequate LIVING STANDARDS
food; The right to an adequate standard of The right to an adequate standard
living PUBLIC SECURITY
of living
FORCES
The right to freedom from
FAIR TRIAL MIGRATION torture; The right to life, liberty
The right to fair trial and recognition as a The right to freedom of movement and security of person
person before the law
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH TRADE UNIONS
FOOD SECURITY The right to peaceful assembly
The right to adequate food AND SAFETY
The right to health; The right to and freedom of association
work and just and favourable
FORCED LABOUR conditions of work WORKING CONDITIONS
The right to freedom from forced labour The right to work and just and
and servitude favourable conditions of work

24. How is the Portal Different?
2 Freely Available
All Portal information is published online, free of charge
Addresses needs of small and medium-size enterprises
Ongoing participation of local civil society
Links to in-country multistakeholder initiatives

25. How is the Portal Different?
3 In-Country Process
Portal information is extended through engagement with
local business, civil society and government stakeholders
Gathers information not available through desk research
Provides case study examples of current business practices
Identifies country-level priorities and initiatives
Ongoing updates

26. Portal Development

27. Portal Development
Objective
The Portal aims to cover 100+ countries over the next four years

28. Portal Development
Objective
The Portal aims to cover 100+ countries over the next four years
Portal Pilot
DIHR has been funded to create a pilot version of the Country Risk
Portal throughout 2010
OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate content and ACTIVITIES
functionality • Needs assessment
• Ensure that Portal meets • Stakeholder consultation
needs of target users • Country risk information for 20
countries
• Three in-country processes
• Launch CountryRiskPortal.org

29. Portal Development
Pilot Countries 1. Bangladesh 11. Uganda
Country risk information 2. Bolivia 12. Vietnam
will be published for: 3. Burkina Faso 13. Zambia
4. Ghana 14. China
5. Kenya 15. India
6. Mali 16. Brazil
7. Mozambique 17. Russia
8. Nepal 18. Indonesia
9. Nicaragua 19. Egypt
10. Tanzania 20. South Africa
In-Country Process 1. Indonesia
Country missions will be 2. Kenya
conducted in: 3. South Africa

30. Country Risk Contents

31. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

32. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
Summary of private-sector risk
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

33. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
The most urgent human rights risks to
address in policy and procedures
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

34. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
The most urgent human rights risks to
RISK INFORMATION
address in policy and procedures
Legal Protection
III. Legal Analysis
Rights Enjoyment
IV. Sector Risk Company Violations
Complicity Risk
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

35. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
The most urgent human rights risks to
RECOMMENDATIONS
address in policy and procedures
Human Rights Standard
III. Legal Analysis
Company Policy
IV. Sector Risk Company Procedures
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

36. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
International commitments,
risks in national law
IV. Sector Risk
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

37. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
Risks and reported violations in
major industry sectors
V. High-Risk Regions
VI. Proactive Initiatives

38. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues
III. Legal Analysis
IV. Sector Risk
IV. High-Risk Regions
Subnational areas that present
additional risk to business
VI. Proactive Initiatives

39. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Country Risk Contents
I. Human Rights Profile
II. Priority Issues EXISTING INITIATIVES
Align with poverty alleviation strategies,
III. Legal Analysis ongoing private sector projects
IV. Sector Risk
BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT
IV. High-Risk Regions What prevents business activities from
contributing to development?
VI. Proactive Initiatives
How can business contribute to
sustainable development

40. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback

41. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback
Testing
The Country Risk Portal is currently undergoing testing
with all stakeholder groups
Download Test Briefings and feedback form at
humanrightsbusiness.org
Send all comments and questions to
Portal@humanrights.dk

42. Human Rights and Business Country Risk Portal
Testing and Feedback
Feedback
The Country Risk Portal is commissioning feedback and
comments on the following issues:
GENERAL COMMENTS
Is this concept and execution useful to your work in the field of
business and human rights?
ORGANIZATION
What are the most relevant sections in the test briefings?
INFORMATION
What additional information would be useful?

43. Country Risk Portal Launch
CountryRiskPortal.org
Dec. 1, 2010
Portal@humanrights.dk