PETER NESTOR
Global Head of Human Rights, Novartis and co-chair of the PSCI Human Rights & Labor Topic Team, Basel, Switzerland

Abstract

In the spotlight because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with growing expectations on all companies to identify and mitigate risks in their supply chain, the pharmaceutical sector is increasingly under pressure to show that it is doing its part to respect human rights. This is however a challenging endeavor as pharmaceutical corporations rely on longer and more complex supply chains than most industries. The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) is committed to support our members to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Human Rights within their supply chains. With free and high-quality training materials, maturity models, and resources from the PSCI pharma companies and suppliers can identify and mitigate human rights risks and ultimately build responsible supply chains.

At the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI), we are committed to supporting all our members in implementing the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and to ensure the organization’s actions are aligned with the UNGPs. We released our first-ever position statement on human rights (1) to celebrate Human Rights Day, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

For business, the UNGPs are the key framework to follow. They are based on the International Bill of Human Rights and the ILO Core Labor Rights Conventions and provide guidance for States and companies to prevent, address, and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations. We recognize that all companies have the responsibility to resp ...