Global launch highlights that valuing equality and diversity in corporations positively affects business
Rio de Janeiro, June 25, 2019 – The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) launches this Tuesday (25) the CEO Guide on Human Rights, an initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development that involves 35 large companies, present in 17 countries and responsible for generating 2.8 million jobs, in addition to moving extensive supply chains in various industry sectors. The guide was published in English, French, Spanish and now in Portuguese, with a simultaneous release in Brazil and Portugal. Among CEBDS associates are Natura, Votorantim Cimentos and Phillip Morris. The initiative aims to consolidate human rights in the corporate culture.
“We want to motivate business leaders to go beyond legal compliance. The company has a fundamental responsibility to respect human rights, but it also has opportunities to transform people's lives for the better”, says Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS. The CEO's Guide to Human Rights is available for free download at cebds.org.
The publication is part of a series originated by the WBCSD and brought to Brazil by the CEBDS, which aims to directly influence the highest level of company leadership, in order to ensure the incorporation of sustainable development issues in the company's decision-making process. Guides for CEOS in relation to water and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have already been launched in Portuguese.
Companies deal with human rights on a daily basis in their interactions with employees, suppliers, consumers, partners and communities. The guide is based on the premise that leading businesses guaranteeing universal human rights is one of the most powerful opportunities to contribute to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in addition to positively affecting the cost of capital of companies, as investors are increasingly attentive to the social and environmental responsibility of companies.
About CEBDS
Founded in 1997 by a group of leading Brazilian businessmen, CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development) is a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable development through articulation with governments and civil society, in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. The Council brings together around 60 of the largest business groups in the country, with revenue equivalent to 40% of GDP, and responsible for more than 1 million direct jobs. The Council is the representative in Brazil of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) network.
