A/HRC/RES/44/15
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
23 July 2020
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Forty-fourth session
30 June–17 July 2020
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council
on 17 July 2020
44/15.
Business and human rights: the Working Group on the issue of human
rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises,
and improving accountability and access to remedy
The Human Rights Council,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Recalling relevant international human rights treaties, including the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling also the
Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to
Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,
Taking note with appreciation of the adoption by the Governing Body of the
International Labour Office in March 2017 of the revised Tripartite Declaration of Principles
concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, which takes into account, inter alia,
the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as other instruments relevant
to the promotion of the agenda of business and human rights,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 74/146 of 18 December 2019 on
implementing the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and
Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms through providing a safe and enabling environment for human rights
defenders and ensuring their protection,
Recalling also Human Rights Council resolutions 8/7 of 18 June 2008, 17/4 of 16 June
2011, 21/5 of 27 September 2012, 26/22 of 27 June 2014, 32/10 of 30 June 2016, 35/7 of 22
June 2017 and 38/13 of 6 July 2018, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/69
of 20 April 2005, and noting Council resolution 26/9 of 26 June 2014, all concerning the
issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises,
Recalling further the reports of the Secretary-General on challenges, strategies and
developments with regard to the implementation of resolution 21/5 by the United Nations
system, including its programmes, funds and agencies, and the recommendations made
GE.20-09803(E)