ICAR and DIHR launch updated National Action Plans (NAPs) Toolkit and National Baseline Assessment (NBA) Template draft
The International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR) and Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) are pleased to release an updated version of the National Action Plan (NAPs) Toolkit.
ICAR and DIHR originally published the NAPs Toolkit in July 2014 with the aim of providing the first building blocks towards a common framework for developing and evaluating NAPs on business and human rights. Since its publication, various components of the Toolkit have been utilized by state actors, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), and academia to inform their work on NAPs, including through the creation of official and shadow National Baseline Assessments and assessments of existing NAPs.
Thematic guidance relating to NAPs on business and human rights have also been developed by ICAR and/or DIHR in the area of children’s rights with UNICEF and on human rights defenders with the International Service on Human Rights (ISHR). A thematic guidance on NAPs and the extractive sector, developed by ICAR and the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF) will be published in December 2017.
In September 2016, ICAR and DIHR brought together business and human rights practitioners from across the globe who have utilized the Toolkit to gather their experiences and collective feedback and suggestions for improvements. The 2017 update of the Toolkit attempts to reflect this feedback, it also provides updates on NAP support and implementation globally, and provides useful and practical examples of best practice from across different country contexts.
As part of the 2017 update, ICAR and DIHR are also releasing a draft update of the National Baseline Assessment Template for open consultation and road-testing. ICAR and DIHR welcome and encourage governments, business enterprises, civil society organizations, academics, and other interested actors to utilize the template and provide feedback .
Users may provide their comments, experiences, and concerns with ICAR and DIHR by May 30, 2018 by contacting either Cindy Woods, Legal and Policy Associate, at cindy@icar.ngo or Paloma Muñoz Quick, Human Rights and Business Advisor, at pamu@humanrights.dk.