“We provide thought leadership and update our clients on recent developments”
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
As thought leaders in the field of business and human rights, we are committed to shaping the discourse and guiding companies in establishing robust management systems. Explore our publications to gain valuable perspectives and stay ahead in navigating the landscape of human rights and environmental due diligence:
Q&As
The following Q&As provide Swiss and international companies with practical guidance on implementing HREDD, navigating key HREDD laws, and addressing specific impacts in various contexts:
Q&A Legal HREDD Requirements:
July 2025. Available in English.
Q&A EU Forced Labour Regulation:
March 2025. Available in English.
Q&A CSDDD:
Q&A Sustainability Schemes:
Q&A Conflict-affected areas:
Q&A Conflict Minerals:
January 2022. Available in English.
Q&A Child Labour:
June 2021. Available in English.
VIDEOS
Short introduction videos about human rights due diligence and human rights risk assessment
Created by focusright with the support of FDFA and SECO in the context of the Swiss National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights 2020 - 2023. The GCNSL is a strategic partner. The videos are based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Available in English, German, French and Italian.
Why are human rights important for companies? How can companies implement a management system to respect human rights and prevent adverse impacts along their value chain? This explanatory video gives a brief overview of the six steps of human rights due diligence (HRDD) and explains their contribution to sustainable business success.
The video is available in English, German, French and Italian.
How can companies be confronted with human rights risks along their value chain? How can they proactively identify such risks and address them appropriately? This explanatory video provides a brief overview of the three steps of a human rights risk assessment and shows its relevance for people and companies.
The video is available in English, German, French and Italian.
PODCASTS
Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: voices from the field
What is human rights due diligence all about? How do Swiss companies implement due diligence in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles? What have they learned, and what are the challenges? What legal developments are companies facing, and how can they best prepare?
In a series of four podcasts, experts from Novartis, Adecco Group and Sucafina and from the Centre for Human Rights Studies of the University of Zürich discuss these and more questions. For anyone interested in the practice of responsible business conduct or looking for inspiration to introduce or further develop human rights due diligence in their company.
The podcast was produced on behalf of SECO International Labour Affairs and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA in the context of the Swiss National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, in collaboration with engageability and the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein.
HRDD GUIDE
Practical guide for the implementation of human rights due diligence
This practical guide helps both SMEs and large companies to develop and implement pragmatic and effective human rights due diligence processes in line with the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD Guidelines. In addition, it outlines the first steps companies can take when setting up a due diligence system. The guide was created within the frame of the Swiss National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP) on behalf of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. The UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein is strategic partner.
The guide is available in German, French, Italian and English .
FURTHER INSIGHTS
Further publications and contributions, including focusright Tools, Guidelines, Recommendations, and Checklists for implementing human rights due diligence:
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focusright’s Q&A regarding Mandatory Human Rights & Environmental Due Diligence: Guidance for Swiss companies navigating legal uncertainty (July 2025)
focusright’s Q&A regarding the EU Forced Labour Regulation: Strengthening Compliance with Human Rights Due Diligence (March 2025)
focusright’s Q&A regarding the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD): What do the new EU sustainability due diligence obligations mean for Swiss and other non-EU companies? (August 2024)
focusright’s Q&A for companies about the two options to implement the new child labour due diligence requirements in Switzerland (August 2022)
focusright’s response to the Swiss Government on the draft implementing ordinance related to the indirect counterproposal to the Responsible Business Initiative, in German only (July 2021)
Blog post about upcoming due diligence requirements and their implications for Swiss companies: Neue Sorgfaltspflichten für Umwelt und Menschenrechte – Was kommt auf Schweizer Unternehmen zu? in German only (June 2021)
Final report: Monitoring of the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights, German Federal Foreign Office & Ernst & Young with systain, adelphi und focusright (October 2020)
focusright’s commentary on the current political debate in Switzerland about mandatory due diligence: Unglückliche Vermischung zweier Vorlagen, in German only (Aug 2019)
Study: Bestandsaufnahme über die Umsetzung der UNO-Leitprinzipien für Wirtschaft und Menschenrechte durch den Bund und durch Schweizer Unternehmen, in German only with Executive Summary in English (Juli 2018)
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Blog post/study: COVID-19 Impacts on the Thai Tourism Supply Chain, PATA and focusright (April 2021) (press release here)
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focusright: Certifications, social audits and supplier management tools: What is their role in companies’ human rights due diligence? (October 2023)
focusright: explainer videos - introduction to human rights due diligence and introduction to human rights risk assessment (October 2023)
focusright & swisspeace: Responsible business in conflict-affected or high-risk areas – Q&A for companies (June 2023)
engageability & focusright: podcasts series on implementing human rights due diligence (January 2023)
focusright: Human Rights Due Diligence - Step-by-step practical guide for companies (October 2022)
focusright: Human Rights Due Diligence for Non-Governmental Organizations - Why it is needed and how it is done. Working Paper (May 2022)
focusright: Conflict Minerals - Q&A to support companies’ due diligence (January 2022)
Stiftung Arbeit und Umwelt der IG BCE: Die Umsetzung der menschenrechtlichen Sorgfalt – Handlungshilfe für Arbeitnehmervertretungen, in German only (October 2021)
focusright: Addressing Child Labour Risks - Q&A to support companies’ due diligence (June 2021)
UN Global Compact: focusright’s Communication on Progress
Contribution to HRIA Guidance & Toolbox, Danish Institute for Human Rights (2020)
Human Rights Impact Assessment Thailand & Myanmar, Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism (March 2020)
Chapter in the Handbook on Human Rights Impact Assessment, edited by Nora Götzmann, The Danish Institute for Human Rights: Travel and tourism: A comparative analysis of different HRIA approaches (November 2019)
Guidelines for the implementation of human rights-related due diligence in fragile contexts, Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism (Oct 2016)
Recommendations for implementation of labor and social standards for driving personnel in the tourism sector, Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism (Sep 2015)
Contribution to a set of tools on children’s rights due diligence for companies, UNICEF (2012-14)
Kuoni’s Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs) in Kenia (2012) & India (2014) HRIA Guidance & Toolbox HRIA Guidance & Toolbox
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Webinar: Sustainable Procurement Webinar: Einkaufspraktiken im Wandel - So erfüllen Sie Sorgfaltspflichten zu Menschenrechten. In cooperation with öbu (02.04.2025)
Webinar: The role of traceability in human rights due diligence. This webinar was open to participants of the UN GCNSL (22.10.2024)
Webinar: Adoption of the CSDDD: What do the new EU sustainability due diligence obligations mean for Swiss companies? In cooperation with the GCNSL (04.07.2024)
Webinar: Certifications, social audits and supplier management tools – What is their role in human rights due diligence? In cooperation with the GCNSL and the Swiss Federal Administration (SECO & FDFA) (26.10.2023)
Webinar Series: Child Labour Due Diligence. Organized by the GCNSL in cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) (2023)
Webinar: Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected or High-Risk Areas – what companies need to know and act upon. In collaboration with the Swiss Confederation (SECO & FDFA) and the GCNSL (2023) (05.06.2023)
Webinar: Introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence (in English, German, French & Italian). In collaboration with the Swiss Confederation (SECO & FDFA) and the GCNSL (2023)