{"id":9717,"date":"2024-12-06T15:24:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T15:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/?p=9717"},"modified":"2024-12-09T10:49:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T10:49:10","slug":"safeguarding-refugee-rights-in-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/safeguarding-refugee-rights-in-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Safeguarding refugee rights in business\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/span>Jerome Nhan, <\/span>UNHCR <\/span>Senior Private Partnerships<\/span> Officer and Julia Olofsson<\/span>, Ingka Group’s Global Director of Human Rights and Social Impact<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||16px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/RF1344758_206A7709_edit-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Kenya. Women’s empowerment. Congolese welder forges a formidable path.” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-9px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Mariam is a 23-year-old Congolese refugee and welder from Kakuma camp in Kenya. She received training through a joint UNHCR and International Labor Organization (ILO) project that aims to provide refugees and hosting communities with access to livelihoods. \u00a9 UNHCR\/Charity Nzomo<\/em><\/p>\n

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In a world where over 120 million people have been <\/span>forced to flee <\/span>because of<\/span> violence, conflict, <\/span>persecution<\/span> and increasingly climate-related emergencies<\/span>, b<\/span>usinesses<\/span> have a unique and vital role to play in safeguarding<\/span> the<\/span> human rights<\/span> of forcibly displaced people<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Today, the number of active conflicts is the highest since World War II<\/span>, a trend <\/span>likely to per<\/span>si<\/span>st due to geopolitical tensions and <\/span>the<\/span> <\/span>growing internationalization of conflict.<\/span> <\/span>For businesses, this means <\/span>the likelihood <\/span>of <\/span>encountering <\/span>refugees and other forcibly displaced people within their<\/span> <\/span>operations and supply chains is increasing<\/span>, <\/span>whether<\/span> as part of the workforce, as customers or as <\/span>members <\/span>of <\/span>the broader <\/span>communities<\/span> where <\/span>they <\/span>operate<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Refugee-Sensitive Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)?<\/h2>\n

Refugees are often pushed into informal economies, where they are at greater risk of exploitation. Many lack legal status or documentation, face cultural and language barriers, or have limited access to formal employment. Without robust safeguards, these vulnerabilities can lead to exploitative and unsafe working conditions, harming individuals and exposing businesses to reputational and operational risks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Companies often operate or source goods and services from supply chains in countries with large refugee populations. For businesses, integrating a refugee lens into HRDD frameworks helps address these vulnerabilities while also driving tangible benefits:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n