The Corporate Responsibility to Respect (CR2R) Webinar 5: Effective Operational-Level Grievance Mechanisms

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The Investor Alliance for Human Rights is conducting a five-part webinar series that systematically explores the elements of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights (CR2R) as laid out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These webinars equip investors with the knowledge and tools to assess and engage with their portfolio companies on their human rights performance and to help ensure that companies meet their responsibility to respect human rights across their operations and value chains.

This fifth and final installment in the series will focus on Effective Operational-Level Grievance Mechanisms (OLGMs), a cornerstone of the UNGPs and a vital bridge between the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and access to remedy. For recordings of previous webinars and associated videologs, please see our YouTube channel.

Under the UNGPs, companies that identify they have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts are expected to provide for or cooperate in their remediation through legitimate and effective processes, with the capacity to deliver fair and rights-compatible outcomes. OLGMs play a key role in enabling companies to identify, address, and remedy human rights harms in collaboration with affected stakeholders. When well-designed and trusted, these mechanisms serve as early warning systems that help companies prevent risks from escalating and ensure continuous improvement in their human rights due diligence processes.

This webinar will explore how companies can design and implement effective OLGMs that contribute to providing access to remedy and strengthen human rights due diligence. Speakers will discuss emerging good practices, the role of meaningful stakeholder engagement in building trust and legitimacy, and how well-functioning mechanisms can prevent and address human rights risks. We will hear about key indicators for assessing the adequacy of OLGMs relative to expectations laid out in the UNGPs. The session will also consider what investors look for when engaging companies on their grievance processes and how they can use their leverage to promote remediation, accountability, and continuous improvement of human rights risk management.

To learn more about the CR2R webinar series, see here.

Please register for the webinar.

Speakers: 

• Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Associate Director, Investor Alliance for Human Rights (Moderator)
• Namit Agarwal, Head of Social, World Benchmarking Alliance
• Jonathan Drimmer, Partner, Steptoe LLP; Senior Advisor, Global Business Initiative
• Mary Beth Gallagher, Director of Engagement, Domini Impact Investments
• Company representative (TBD)

Background Resources: 

• International Frameworks
  • OHCHR, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Principles 22, see pp. 29-31
  • OHCHR, The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights: An Interpretive Guide, see pp. 63-76
  • OHCHR, Access to Remedy in Case of Business-Related Human Rights Abuse: An Interpretive Guide
• Benchmarking Methodology
  • Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, 2026 Methodology, pp. 41-47
• Reporting Frameworks
  • SHIFT and Mazars LLP, The UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework with Implementation Guidance, pp. 59, 86
• Guidance on Grievance Mechanisms
  • Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, What "Good" Looks Like: Grievance Mechanisms and Remedy
  • Luda Svystunova, Amundi and Mary Beth Gallagher, Domini Impact Investments, Investor Expectations on Grievance and Remedy: Key Insights and Recommendations
  • AIMprogress, Grievance Mechanisms Maturity Framework and Guidance
  • Nomogaia, Recommendations for Non-Governmental Human Rights Grievance Mechanisms
  • Nomogaia and University of Warwick, Enhancing the Effectiveness of Grievance Mechanisms in Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives
  • BII Toolkit, Tips on Effective Grievance Mechanisms for Business
• Guidance on Stakeholder Engagement
  • Rights CoLab et al., Investor HREDD Precision Tools: Stakeholder Engagement Guide (Beta) - See also Rights CoLab's Joanne Bauer's videolog on Stakeholder Engagement in the HRDD Process
  • ETI, Framework on Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement
  • Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, What "Good" Looks Like: Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement
  • Global Compact Network Netherlands, Oxfam and Shift, Doing Business, 3.7 Stakeholder Engagement
  • BSR, Five-Step Approach to Stakeholder Engagement
• Examples of Good Grievance Mechanisms
  • Samsung, Global Grievance Resolution Policy
  • Wilmar International, Grievance Procedure
  • Puma, Rules for the Complaint Procedure

  • Repsol, Grievance Mechanisms