Human Rights Impact Assessment Framework

Overview

Companies are increasingly engaging in Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs). To assess the quality of company-commissioned HRIAs, Oxfam has developed criteria that cover both process and content. They are key to ensuring that the research captures all relevant adverse risks to human rights, to support companies in understanding how their practices have an impact on adverse risks, and to lead to systemic and sustainable improvements for workers and rights holders. For companies that fulfill all of the criteria, the HRIA will qualify as robust. Otherwise, the framework will help to identify the main weaknesses and areas where they must improve.