Closing protection gaps in the human rights and business context: what transnational cooperation between the National Human Rights Institutions of Germany and Colombia has achieved

Abstract

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) were developed to close the gap between transnational economic activities and the regulation of state duties and corporate responsibilities in the protection of human rights. The UNGP confirm that National Human Rights Institutions have an important role to play in implementing the principles. Their task is to provide guidance on human rights to States, business enterprises and other non-State actors. Transnational cooperation among National Human Rights Institutions can help to promote the implementation process. With this paper, the German Institute for Human Rights wants to share its experiences with international NHRI cooperation and provide food for thought about how other NHRIs might benefit from those experiences.