This Guidebook is a resource for human rights practitioners within national human rights institutions (NHRIs). It has been developed on behalf of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of NHRIs by the Danish Institute for Human Rights in consultation with the ICC Working Group on Business and Human Rights. It introduces the subject of business and human rights, including the role of a national human rights institution in identifying and addressing the impacts of business on human rights enjoyment.

Business activities can have a wide range of positive and adverse impacts on human rights. This has been subject to growing attention in the international community, not least through the former mandate of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights and the development of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Through their role in promoting and protecting human rights, national human rights institutions can play an important part in engaging with business and human rights issues to ensure that States, businesses and civil society uphold their respective duties and responsibilities with regard to business interaction with human rights.