Human Rights Due Diligence

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) is the process by which businesses assess and address the potential impacts their activities can have on human rights. It’s not enough to avoid direct harm – companies must actively identify and mitigate risks in their entire supply chain.

Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) may sound complicated, but it's actually quite simple. It means: respecting labour rights, following ethical practices, and protecting the environment. Because business is not just about profit—it’s about people. And without them, there is no business. 

Gender Responsive Due Diligence (GRDD) 

Human rights and environmental violations are often gender related. Addressing these abuses requires a gender-transformative approach. A transformational approach addresses the structural causes of women’s inequality in global value chain-related jobs. Not only do we need to look at gender related issues, but also at many other intersectional challenges such as caste/class systems and other forms of discrimination. 

We have created a Gender Guidance Note, to support Trade Unions, but also other stakeholders on how to address gender and intersectional issues.

Download the English version here

Download the Amharic version here

Download the Arabic version here

This document will soon also be available in the languages below: 

Bahasa Indonesia 

Bangla 

Kanada 

Tamil 

Telugu 

Tool: Power Walk 

Looking for an impactful way of creating awareness on power imbalances? Incorporate our Power Walk in your next (HRDD) training. Watch the video to learn more about the exercise. 

Testimonials of HRDD training participants 

Indonesia 
“The term HRDD is new. But I think the steps that we have taken so far, are quite similar. The training we had these three days has improved our skills and knowledge. It strengthened our knowledge, and I'd like to thank MondiaalFNV. We can use this in our work, which will be necessary because there are still many companies who are not doing the right thing.” - Erika Rosmawati, F-Serbundo 

Ethiopia 
“During the training, we reflected on the challenges faced in day-to-day operations, such as the pressure to comply with policies affecting women. For instance, monitoring the impact involves assessing whether the policies adopted are serving the course of women's issues and are in coherent with general legal requirements. The actual application of the HRDD steps will help us ensure that our policies are not only on paper but enforced and benefiting the target groups.” - Elsa Werge, Bram Flowers Women’s Committee 

Bangladesh 
“Previously, we thought responsibility lay only with suppliers. Now we know it also involves buyers/brands, especially regarding working conditions (overtime, lack of OSH, etc.), wages, oppression, termination, and similar issues. If something happens, we can reach out to brands for resolution. HREDD has expanded discussions beyond wages and working conditions to include environmental issues like water and air pollution. It covers not just living wages but also living conditions and future security. So, it has given us the opportunity to work within the country to improve the conditions as well as to use the leverage external opportunities through the brands/buyers.”