What are the most effective ways to promote human rights in countries with weak governance?

Be the role model. Through your business through your transactions in the country be the benchmark for human rights. This is an issue where you shouldn't be "while in Rome...."

To me human rights impact can only be felt and measured, when we begin the discourse with the single most important attribute of ‘RESPECT’. Although the second pillar of the UNGPs formally applies to Corporations, but in reality it remains the fundamental principle for all stakeholders - be it Government, civil societies or practitioners in the field. All need to respect People, Planet and Profit. These qualities are not easily acquired but have to be enforced right from childhood in the home environment. Hence the journey begins at home and the role of teachers in Schools remains crucial in protecting Human Rights.

Research by Open For Business has shown that LGBTQ+ discrimination costs the English-speaking Caribbean between 2.1 and up to 5.7% of its collective GDP, Kenya 1.7% of GDP per year and Poland between 0.21-0.43 % of GDP. They also estimated that a 10% increase in LGBTQ+ rights in Slovakia would lead to an approximate €3,000 per capita GDP increase.

Lack of transparency of use and management of resources can cause weak governance. Inequalities of humanity, resources allocation and implementation can contribute to weak governance.

Navigating weak governance demands a nuanced approach. I've found that addressing corruption and instability head-on is essential. Collaborating with local communities helps in understanding the intricate web of issues. Weak governance often leads to rights violations, and addressing these requires strategic partnerships. We must tackle the root causes—poverty, violence, external interference—while advocating for institutional reforms to foster transparency and accountability.

Supporting and strengthening the local civil society is one of the good strategies to promote human rights in a country with poor governance. However, civil society organisations or individuals may be at risks of violatation of their rights while doing so. This would require multidimensional strategies such as producing knowledge to make the voices logical and reasonable, working with relevant government organisations and engaging academia and media.

The most effective approach to promoting human rights in a country with weak governance is to empower local NGOs and community leaders who are actively engaged on the ground. This involves a multi-faceted strategy: Contextual Understanding;Empowerment through Respect; Sustainability through Infrastructure Building; Cultural Sensitivity. In summary, promoting human rights in countries with weak governance requires a holistic approach that combines deep contextual understanding, respect for local knowledge, infrastructure development, and cultural sensitivity. By fostering collaboration and partnership with local NGOs and community leaders, real progress can be made in advancing human rights in these challenging environments.

While supporting the initiatives of local human rights defenders, be aware of political maneuvering and opportunism. The standards do not apply in the same way, so where weak institutions prevail, then support strong private initiatives to strengthen a wider spread of opportunities both in education and job creation even if they seem basic, they will represent and advantage where none others are offered.

One way you could engage with your suppliers is to perform regular supplier visits. This is a great way to get to know your supplier better and build a relationship of trust. It is then key to share your goals and try to work together on improving the status quo. Your supplier may not have a sustainability team that is actually working on this topic so your resources may be essential to enabling it to improve its social performance.

Business leaders at multinationals have a critical role play in shifting culture and advancing human rights around the world. They often have significant sway with government officials. Multinational firms should speak out for human rights wherever they do business. Google is a great example of this. They have made public statements in support of LGBTQ+ rights in Japan, Brazil, Poland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Engaging with diverse stakeholders is a delicate dance. Establishing trust is foundational; it opens doors to dialogue. Sharing information, finding common ground, and aligning with shared values are effective strategies. I've learned that patience is key—change often requires a gradual shift in perspectives. By fostering collaboration with various stakeholders, we create a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to promoting human rights.

Advocacy is a multifaceted effort. Raising awareness is the first step, and leveraging media, technology, and artistic expressions can be powerful tools. Lobbying policymakers, monitoring human rights violations, and utilizing legal channels are strategic methods. It's essential to adapt strategies to the local context and remain resilient. Flexibility and creativity are crucial for overcoming the challenges posed by weak governance.

Working in challenging environments requires a proactive approach to safety. Conducting thorough risk assessments, developing security protocols, and having contingency plans are non-negotiable. Seeking support from fellow human rights defenders fosters a sense of solidarity. Prioritizing mental and emotional well-being is often overlooked but crucial for long-term effectiveness. In the ever-evolving landscape, adaptability and self-care are key to sustaining the fight for human rights.

No one can better safeguard human rights other than the person itself. The one can raise voice against violation of rights only when they are aware about their rights and have knowledge, have a surity that governance and judiciary will support their voices against violation of their rights.Except this belief and awareness the economic independence plays a vital role. The CSOs, NGOs and INGOs can play a vital role by raising the voices of marginalised communities and definitely to some extent these organizations can directly impact to protect violation against hunan rights to some extent but with the real engagement of decision makers would create a high impact.

Initiate dialogue at different levels of the state on both opportunities as well as problem solving. Meet them where they are in a language that they understand and does not “preach” human rights. This helps identify Agents of Change. Open or facilitate the space for dialogue between state and civil society to discuss areas of disagreement and work towards collaboration. Bring stakeholders together who otherwise would not listen or collaborate with each other . It opens up opportunity for trust building: https://www.wcs.org/our-work/communities This is a long term commitment requiring skilled staff in country. https://news.mongabay.com/2022/02/wcs-conservation-in-the-drc-needs-indigenous-values-and-a-paradigm-shift-commentary/amp/