INTERVIEW H.E. GILES NORMAN,AMBASSADOR OF CANADA TO SERBIA
LEADING BY EXAMPLE The Government of Canada is adamant that the protection of human rights, both in Canada and globally, has to be high on the agenda of companies, and that’s why it encourages Canadian businesses to approach their international projects by placing human rights at the very heart of their endeavors
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he Government of Canada has insisted, and will always insist, on the protection of human rights in Canada and around the world. We continue to encourage Canadian businesses to develop their international projects by placing human rights at the very heart of their projects, thus building Canada’s reputation as the global leader of responsible business conduct ~ says Canadian Ambassador to Serbia Giles Norman at the start of our interview, which is focused on the values underpinning the Responsible Business Conduct Strategy adopted by
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Canada 2022
the Government of Canada in April 2022. The Responsible Business Conduct Strategy (RBC) represents continuity with some shifts, including the introduction of new tools and requirements to help Canadian companies achieve leading responsible business practices, greater alignment with the wider priorities of the Government of Canada, and the establishment of an action plan and a monitoring and evaluation framework, explains our interlocutor. As part of the Strategy Action Plan, the Government of Canada will develop an RBC due diligence standard that will complement
existing international and Canadian reporting frameworks, and provide a common set of indicators for Canadian companies to account for how they address actual and potential negative impacts on their business activities, explains the ambassador. “We will also develop interactive tools to provide companies with information on social and environmental risks related to specific markets and sectors. These tools will aim to increase awareness among Canadian companies regarding the risks they may face in the international markets. “Coupled with the control mechanisms
