Guidance and Support for Responsible Business [473 KB]
The Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) team provides guidance, promotion and support for responsible business practices, engaging the private sector, labor groups, non-governmental organizations, and other governments, based on international best practices.The RBC team advances responsible business conduct through the OECD and the Secretary’s annual Award for Corporate Excellence, and houses the U.S. National Contact Point, which offers a dispute resolution mechanism under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. By helping U.S. companies promote human rights, respect for rule of law, sustainability, and investments in local communities, governments and consumers around the world seek U.S. products, services, and investments.
Managing Adverse Risks to Women in Supply Chains: Recommended Actions for Companies
This is a set of recommendations for companies to strengthen respect for women’s rights while addressing adverse risks to businesses in their supply chains. Companies have important roles in addressing the unique risks and challenges women face within complex supply chains. Businesses should take steps to identify, prevent, mitigate, and remedy human rights abuses of women and girls that businesses cause or contribute to, or are directly linked to through their activities. Empowering women and girls is the best way to achieve positive economic and inclusive social development outcomes.
Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence
The Secretary of State’s annual Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) recognizes and honors U.S. companies that uphold high standards as responsible members of their communities and represent American values in the way they do business in their overseas operations.
U.S. National Contact Point
The U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines helps promote awareness on issues such as labor rights, human rights, anti-corruption, supply chain due diligence, and more. The U.S. National Point of Contact team offers a dispute resolution and mediation mechanism that can assist companies, labor groups, and NGOs when issues arise related to implementing responsible business conduct in a company’s operations.
U.S. National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct
On December 16, 2016, the U.S. government launched the first National Action Plan on RBC. The NAP reflects the government’s commitment to promoting human rights and fighting corruption through partnerships with domestic and international stakeholders. An important part of this commitment includes encouraging companies to embrace high standards for responsible business conduct.