We launched the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights four years ago in an effort to make globalisation more socially just. The protection of human rights, also in the business context, continues to be of great importance – especially now that we are in the grip of a global pandemic. Business is always also about people and their rights must be at the heart of our work to create a more sustainable future.

The first results of the 2020 NAP monitoring process are now available and the Federal Foreign Office briefed the Interministerial Committee today. We will now discuss the report within the Federal Government.

It has emerged that many German companies are already looking closely at human rights issues in their business activities around the world and vigorously tackling problems. However, the provisional results also reveal that many companies have fallen short of the Federal Government’s expectations.

However, respecting human rights must not be a matter of individual commitment. We therefore have to talk now about passing legislation so that exemplary behaviour on the part of companies is being rewarded and black sheep are held to account.