NomoGaia
Encyclopedia
Established February 2008 in Denver, Colorado, NomoGaia
is a nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to clarifying the corporate role in human rights protection and facilitating corporate responsibility for communities impacted by capital projects. This think tank’s official goal is to close the gap between high-level corporate declarations and on-the-ground investigation regarding human rights
. The aim is not human rights activism but methodological human rights assessments.
Using a field-based approach, NomoGaia writes Human Rights Impact Assessment
(HRIA) , which are made public as case studies, for corporations, academics and consultants to critique as well as to use as guidance for social responsibility.
In 2005, United Nations
appointed professor, John Ruggie
(Special Representative on Human Rights and Business) made a mandate “to identify and clarify standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights.” In 2008, once again thanks to Ruggie, the UN established a set of Guiding Principles for companies and governments, where companies were asked to conduct human rights “due diligence.” The term “human rights due diligence” refers to the care and detail that goes into the investigation and mitigation of negative human rights impacts. In June of 2011, the UN voted to “endorse” the Guiding Principles. Nomogaia’s methodology addresses this original mandate and the Guiding Principles in a clear, concise and effective manner.
In Phases I and II, data is accumulated and an overview of the project is set. Human rights topics are identified using rightsholder engagement and classified using Context Catalogs. Impacts are established in Phase III and confirmed (or refuted) in Phase IV. Phase V consists of the final HRIA and several months of project re-visitation where the human rights changes are evaluated.
NomoGaia
Established February 2008 in Denver, Colorado, NomoGaia is a nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to clarifying the corporate role in human rights protection and facilitating corporate responsibility for communities impacted by capital projects...
is a nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to clarifying the corporate role in human rights protection and facilitating corporate responsibility for communities impacted by capital projects. This think tank’s official goal is to close the gap between high-level corporate declarations and on-the-ground investigation regarding human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. The aim is not human rights activism but methodological human rights assessments.
Using a field-based approach, NomoGaia writes Human Rights Impact Assessment
Human Rights Impact Assessment
Human Rights Impact Assessment is a process for systematically identifying, predicting and responding to the potential human rights impacts of a business operation, capital project, government policy, or trade agreement...
(HRIA) , which are made public as case studies, for corporations, academics and consultants to critique as well as to use as guidance for social responsibility.
In 2005, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
appointed professor, John Ruggie
John Ruggie
John Gerard Ruggie is the Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and Affiliated Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School...
(Special Representative on Human Rights and Business) made a mandate “to identify and clarify standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights.” In 2008, once again thanks to Ruggie, the UN established a set of Guiding Principles for companies and governments, where companies were asked to conduct human rights “due diligence.” The term “human rights due diligence” refers to the care and detail that goes into the investigation and mitigation of negative human rights impacts. In June of 2011, the UN voted to “endorse” the Guiding Principles. Nomogaia’s methodology addresses this original mandate and the Guiding Principles in a clear, concise and effective manner.
Methodology
An HRIA is conducted in five phases:In Phases I and II, data is accumulated and an overview of the project is set. Human rights topics are identified using rightsholder engagement and classified using Context Catalogs. Impacts are established in Phase III and confirmed (or refuted) in Phase IV. Phase V consists of the final HRIA and several months of project re-visitation where the human rights changes are evaluated.