U.S. Department of State Announces New Advisory Committee on Responsible Business Conduct

Washington, D.C., August 9, 2024 – The U.S. Department of State has announced the formation of the Advisory Committee on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), a federal advisory group established to provide expert guidance on issues related to responsible business practices and human rights. The committee, consisting of 34 members from diverse sectors, will offer advice and recommendations to the Department of State on key RBC opportunities and challenges.

The committee’s mandate includes supporting the implementation of RBC strategies, such as the second U.S. National Action Plan on RBC, which was introduced in March 2024. It will also focus on thematic priorities like labor rights in global supply chains, access to remedies for human rights violations, and the role of the U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Chaired by Gare Smith of Foley Hoag LLP and Meg Roggensack of the Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum, the committee features a diverse membership representing businesses, labor unions, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and more. Members include representatives from companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and PepsiCo, as well as organizations like the AFL-CIO, Oxfam America, and Human Rights Watch.

The RBC Advisory Committee is tasked with providing insights that will help the U.S. government advance responsible business practices, particularly in the context of human rights. However, its activities are strictly advisory, reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

The committee’s charter, signed on September 22, 2023, is valid for two years, and the group will play a critical role in shaping U.S. policy on responsible business conduct during that period.

For more information or to contact the committee, inquiries can be sent to RBCAdvisoryCommittee@state.gov.