Civil & Political Rights

Civil and political rights — including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, the right to privacy, and the right to participate in public affairs — are fundamental human rights that businesses can impact both positively and negatively.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights require companies to respect all internationally recognised human rights, including civil and political rights, through human rights due diligence processes. Business impacts on civil and political rights can arise through complicity with government restrictions on freedom of expression, surveillance and data collection practices, restrictions on worker organising and protest, impacts on indigenous peoples' rights to free, prior, and informed consent, and operations in conflict-affected areas where civil and political rights are restricted. Technology companies face particular scrutiny on issues of content moderation, government data requests, and the use of surveillance technology.

Further Reading

• UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• ISO 26000 — Human rights guidance

Related Topics

• Human Rights Due Diligence
• Fundamental Labour Rights
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions