Business and Human Rights

This blog outlines the ideas in a workshop on ‘Global Business and Human rights,’ facilitated by Mark Cumming at the IDEA conference on Wednesday 23 June 2022

One of the major challenges facing society is the power of global business corporations. The relative power of business to nation states is frequently cited in development education resources and materials. However it is an area of work that can often be overlooked by development educators given its complexity.


This workshop sought to provide an understanding of the discourses on business and human rights so that development educators would see the importance, be motivated and better enabled to engage with these issues. It introduced the array of accountability mechanisms and other levers to challenge corporate behaviour and ultimately hold business accountable for rights abuses.

The workshop looked at participants’ engagement and awareness of globalisation and the role that global business had played in this – the Menti word cloud, above, explored where the clothes of participants had been made – if illustration was needed of how globalisation is ever present in our lives, this Menti demonstrated this.


In any exploration of the issues of the power of business, educators often meet the objection that they are anti-business; to show participants how to address this, we explored again via Menti the positives that business bring, while then exploring the challenges that need to be addressed, which was so eloquently put by the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Business and Human Rights who said:

“There is an unsustainable imbalance between the scope of markets and business organisations on the one hand and the capacity of societies to protect and promote the core values of social community.”


Our exploration of business and human rights took a quick history tour of the various phases of the industrialised / western world to regulate the power of business, going back to the anti-trust movement of the late 19th century. This brought us to an examination of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), where it came from, what it is about, what it is not about, who is promoting it and what of its critiques. As a business led process, it has its merits in prompting business to reflect on other aspects of its business other than the bottom line. Interestingly it is only the arch neo-liberals who have opposed it as ‘charity with other people’s money’ (i.e. the money of shareholders). We looked at how CSR can promote a sense of responsibility, however it does not and cannot hold business to account for actions that harm human rights. The crux of the matter is responsibility versus accountability; companies cannot be solely left to take upon themselves the responsibility to act in a certain manner. Like all bodies they must be held to account! Self-regulation is not enough.


Participants brainstormed on campaigns that they knew of where civil society (often coalitions of human rights and environmental NGOs, trade unions and social movements working together) sought to tackle very egregious abuses of rights. This led us to explore the myriad of CSR initiatives that can be company led, industry led and in some cases are multi-stakeholder initiatives, e.g. the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, supporting transparency regarding revenues earned in mining.


An input was given on the range of actions that are laid out in the Trócaire Advocacy Manual on Business and Human Rights; this contains 21 separate actions that groups interested to engage a company can take part in. It situates the place of CSR initiatives and how these can be leveraged to create pressure, all within a context of appreciating their inherent limitations. These actions also engage with some of the new thinking on business and human rights encapsulated in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, developed in 2011. Participants then worked in groups and considered a case-study prepared for the workshop of an imaginary company with various teasers helping them to connect back to the 21 actions. Groups were asked to consider which action points were relevant to put pressure on companies to change their policies and practices that were infringing human rights which led to a good Q and A before we wrapped up.


In closing, the workshop encouraged participants to engage with the new work emerging from within the Irish Coalition on Business and Human Rights, an extensive resources list was also shared that would be of value to development educators in their work.


This blog was written by Mark Cumming, former Private Sector Advocacy Officer in Trócaire. He recently stepped down as Head of Comhlámh and is currently the Development Coordinator of the Sisters of St Louis while also engaging in freelance education, training and facilitation work. He can be contacted here.  



Photo Credit: Human rights by Nick Youngson

Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity

August 11, 2025
Budget 2026: Investing in Global Citizenship Education is Investing in Global Solidarity “Ireland has received international recognition for its development education strategies… Without additional investment, we cannot seize the opportunity to turn development-aware children into development-aware adults.” - OECD DAC Peer Review of Ireland Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here . For over half a century, Ireland has invested in Global Citizenship Education (GCE), enabling people across the island to explore complex issues such as climate justice, human rights, and equality - and to take informed action for a more just and sustainable world. Between 2021 and 2024, €33.6 million was invested in programmes reaching over 1.2 million people, helping to embed GCE across schools, communities, and other learning spaces. This investment has made Ireland a European and global leader in the field. But in today’s turbulent context - with rising disinformation, polarisation, climate emergencies, and deepening inequalities - the need for GCE has never been greater. As Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond, told the IDEA Annual Conference in May 2025: “Now is the time to focus on the hard issues… These are among the greatest challenges of our time.” Why Now? Budget 2026 comes at a critical moment. Ireland is: Running out of time to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Preparing a new national GCE strategy for the next five years. Operating in a global context where democratic values, human rights, and multilateral cooperation are under unprecedented strain. The OECD has commended Ireland’s strong GCE strategies but has also warned that without additional investment, we risk falling short on SDG Target 4.7 - ensuring all learners acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. Our Key Budget 2026 Asks:  Increase investment in GCE Move towards the widely recognised target of 3% of Official Development Assistance (ODA), using a cross-departmental approach and accounting for inflation. Current spending is 1.2% of ODA - far below the €26 million annually needed to reach the 3% target. Boost GCE/ESD funding under “ESD to 2030” Provide adequate and dedicated funding for projects led by organisations, schools, and higher education institutions to ensure the successful delivery of the Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development. Create dedicated GCE/ESD funding lines Integrate and resource GCE/ESD within the SDG National Implementation Plan, Climate Action Plan, and National Action Plan Against Racism, recognising that climate justice and anti-racism are core components of global citizenship. Increase Ireland’s ODA Commit to a €300 million increase in Budget 2026 to make tangible progress towards the UN target of spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA by 2030. Adopt Coalition 2030 recommendations Implement budget measures that ensure resources reach those furthest behind first, and align budget lines with specific SDG targets. Beyond Funding – Policy Coherence and Decent Work In addition to resourcing, GCE requires stronger coordination across government departments and better integration into policies, institutions, and networks. GCE practitioners must also have secure, decent working conditions in line with SDG 8, ensuring that expertise is retained within the sector. The Opportunity for Ireland Ireland is respected globally for its principled, values-based approach to international development. By investing in GCE now, we can: Strengthen civic trust, participation, and resilience in our society. Equip citizens to navigate complex global challenges. Ensure Ireland remains a strong, independent voice for justice, solidarity, and human rights on the world stage. Budget 2026 is our opportunity to protect the progress made, scale up impact, and deliver on our commitments. IDEA and our members are ready to work with Irish Aid and across government to ensure Ireland continues to lead with integrity, foresight, and global solidarity. _______________________________________________________ Read IDEA’s full Pre-Budget 2026 submission here to explore our recommendations in detail and see how, together, we can strengthen Global Citizenship Education in Ireland and beyond.
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IDEA Members Summer Knowledge Share Session Catch-Up

August 2, 2025
Catch-up on a Summer of Learning!

Call for Tender: Auditing Services

July 24, 2025
IDEA invites tender submissions from interested auditing service suppliers to provide auditing and associated professional services to the organisation from the year ending 31 December 2025. IDEA is seeking to engage an experienced auditing service firm that will provide the full range of auditing services required to fulfil its statutory obligations, to comply with relevant accounting and reporting standards and best practice. All submissions to be made to sal@ideaonline.ie You can find the full details here. The deadline for the application is Monday, 11 August, 5pm .