Kyiv, 12 October  2023 – Two online courses for business operating in Ukraine have been released today on the Diia. Education and Diia.Business platforms – “Business and Human Rights” (basic course) and “Human Rights Due Diligence in Wartime” (advanced course). These two video courses provide comprehensive guidance on how to observe human rights in economic activities, mitigate possible reputational risks and promote just, inclusive and sustainable recovery in Ukraine.

These courses will help participants to understand:

• How to navigate responsible business according to modern “business and human rights” concepts,
• How to identify, measure and manage the human rights impacts of business activities,
• The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and other international frameworks on responsible business conduct and how to integrate them in everyday business activity,
• Human Rights Due Diligence and its “heightened” version, and how it can help companies to navigate through the complex and challenging context of war.

Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation and European Integration Valeria Ionan emphasized: "We present two educational series for businesses on the topic of human rights. Observance of human rights ensures the development of human capital, which is the most valuable capital today. The importance of responsible business conduct in today's globalized market is constantly growing. This is evidenced by the approaches of the EU, OECD, and the world's leading economies. Human rights should be the bedrock of every decision made by representatives of the state and business," explains Valeriya Ionan.

H.E. Kuninori Matsuda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, said that business plays a vital role in the social and economic recovery of the country, and this is why human rights should underpin every solution and every decision of business actors and policymakers.

“The people of Japan stand together with Ukraine during these times of unprecedented crisis caused by war and we believe that together we will build back better and create an even brighter future for everyone,” he said. “Today, we are laying the foundation for an inclusive, just, and sustainable recovery that is based on principles of respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. In this effort, businesses have a critical role to play in enhancing the economic potential of Ukraine,” he underlined.

UNDP Resident Representative to Ukraine, Jaco Cilliers, stressed that despite the mounting challenges and significant disruptions caused by the ongoing war, the Ukrainian economy continues to exhibit remarkable resilience. 

“We at UNDP believe that in such trying times, it becomes critically important to consolidate efforts and diligently uphold human rights principles in order to not only sustain but also successfully navigate through the crisis,” he said.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets also stressed that the Ombudsperson’s office stands open and ready to undertake compelling projects in the field of business and human rights. 

“This is undeniably vital, because with enhancing public awareness on these subjects, we can positively impact the adoption of responsible business practices in Ukraine, guided by the UN Guiding Principles. Consequently, this will have a positive effect on the economy, and ultimately, this will contribute to the nation's recovery from the consequences of a full-scale war. Hence, these educational courses will foster incorporation of international standards and best practices in the field of business, a development that will bring benefits to the entire country," he said.

Andriy Remizov, Head of Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office of Ukraine also stressed: “In addition to business development, product quality improvement, and profit increase, entrepreneurs are increasingly focusing their attention on the ethical aspects of business conduct, particularly in duly observing the rights of their employees and customers. To assist Ukrainian companies in progressing in this direction, two educational series have been created. These series are designed to help entrepreneurs understand how businesses can address human rights issues in their operations, how national and international legislation regulates these matters, and how to respond in crisis situations to avoid significant legal risks or reputation damage,” he said.

These educational initiatives are targeting the business community, public officials, civic activists and opinion leaders to raise awareness about the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Human Rights Due Diligence and its “heightened” version and the impact of business on the human rights agenda. 

The “Business and human rights” educational course comprises eight videos, each 8-9 minutes long. The course provides an overview of the “business and human rights” concept and key standards that guide responsible business conduct, and introduces basic tools and procedures that help companies to identify, measure, address and communicate their effects on people and communities. The course is available here: https://osvita.diia.gov.ua/courses/business-and-human-rights

The “Human Rights Due Diligence in Wartime” online course provides more comprehensive guidelines on how companies can uphold the human rights of their employees, consumers, partners, community members and other stakeholders in the context of war through application of the “heightened” human rights due diligence procedure. The course includes six videos, each 7–10 minutes long, and provides step-by-step clarification of when and how to launch such a procedure. Watch the online series of educational videos here: https://business.diia.gov.ua/courses/obacnist

Entrepreneurs can also utilize the free Self-Assessment Tool to help determine the compliance of their practices, assessing the extent to which their company complies with both business and human rights standards within the field of business. Based on the test results, companies will receive recommendations for improving their internal processes and enhancing communication and interaction with suppliers.

Background

These educational courses were developed by UNDP in Ukraine with the support of the Government of Japan and in partnership with the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights with the informational support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office of Ukraine.

For media enquiries, please contact Yuliya Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP Ukraine, via email at yuliia.samus@undp.org.