“We build bridges between business, academia, governments and civil society”

OUR APPROACH

We strive to make human rights concrete for business and initiate change. With this end in view, we support our clients in embedding human rights due diligence into their business practice – in a step-by-step approach. It is our belief that no business is too small or large to implement meaningful measures fostering responsible business behaviour.

Our experience working in the private sector, solution orientation and our extensive international network including representatives from civil society, government, academia and business are what set us apart. We understand the challenges that arise from the need to embed responsible business conduct into existing processes and from diverging views and interests within companies. We support clients in finding pragmatic yet meaningful and impact-oriented solutions to these challenges and to capitalize on the opportunities that arise from actively addressing human rights topics.

As thought leaders in business and human rights, we align our work with international human rights standards and frameworks and are keeping with the times in order to update our clients on recent developments in this topical field.

TEAM

Regula Meng

Senior Consultant

Regula is a specialist in business and human rights with experience in the private and public sector. Prior to focusright, she conducted human rights field work with extensive stakeholder consultations for the United Nations in Colombia, was a child rights and business manager at UNICEF Switzerland, and supported LafargeHolcim’s human rights management as part of the Group sustainability team.

Languages: German, English, Spanish, French

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Yolinka Vossen

Consultant

Yolinka has several years of experience in the implementation of human rights due diligence in various sectors. Before joining focusright, she investigated success factors for the implementation of human rights due diligence in collaboration with large Swiss corporations for her Master's thesis and worked in a procurement optimisation consultancy on projects to optimise procurement processes and logistics costs for SMEs.

Languages: German, English, French

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Dominic Rietmann

Consultant

Dominic has several years of operational experience in responsible business conduct and the implementation of human rights due diligence. Before joining focusright, Dominic worked in sustainability at the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. There he worked on projects in the areas of sustainable supply chains and responsible business and was responsible for the implementation of human rights due diligence in the specialist markets.

Languages: German, English, French

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Carina Waser

Analyst

Carina has a legal background with a focus on international law. She wrote her Master’s thesis on the state's obligation to protect human rights in the face of environmental damage caused by transnational corporations in the Global South. Prior to joining focusright, Carina gained experience in human rights and corporate sustainability at the United Nations Global Compact, a human rights due diligence consultancy, and a legal advisory dedicated to the rights of refugees and migrants.

Languages: German, English, French

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JOBS

Seminar: Transparency requirements for sustainability initiatives and implications for internal audit

Together with The Institute of Internal Auditors Switzerland, focusright conducted a full day in-person training for internal auditors on October 29th in Zürich (in German). The course gave an introduction to the main frameworks on responsible business conduct and human rights due diligence and deep dives into their implications for internal audit.

Key topics included:

• International and local frameworks and standards as well as increasing expectations of companies

• From soft law to hard law: brief overview of the legal requirements for companies

• How CR/ESG/sustainability departments work

• Risk categories and dimensions in relation to sustainability/ESG

• Sustainability risk assessments and their application to units, processes and projects

• Audit Review processes and programmes in relation to sustainability

This seminar was open to members and non-members of The Institute of Internal Auditors Switzerland.
Language: German

Webinar: The role of traceability in human rights due diligence

Companies are increasingly challenged to improve traceability beyond tier 1 in their upstream supply chains. Businesses often question what actions they can and should take in this field, the viability of traceability tools, and how to effectively engage suppliers. This webinar aimed to provide clarity on these topics and guide companies on how to approach traceability in the context of their efforts to conduct human rights due diligence, using risk-based strategies and alternative methods.

Key topics included:

• Understanding expectations: Why is it important to know your supply chain?

• Challenges and limitations of current traceability tools: Why is the job not done with the exclusive use of these tools?

• Traceability from a risk-based perspective: what role does traceability play in the context of human rights due diligence strategies?

• Alternatives to traceability: What else can companies do to reduce their human rights related risks in the supply chain?

This webinar was open to participants of the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein.
Language: English

Panel discussion: Sustainability Regulation in Switzerland

Facing the complexities of various established and upcoming regulations, the Swiss medtech industry finds itself in challenging terrain. The event aimed to shed light on these challenges, offering insight and practical advice. This event provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing political negotiations and the latest regulatory measures affecting Swiss medtech companies. 

The panel discussion “Sustainability Regulation in Switzerland” was attended by Sibylle Baumgartner, Director and co-founder of focusright. The following people also took part in the panel:

• Dora Rio, SHL Medical AG

• Nina Tammler, Insel Gruppe

• Barbara Mettler, Swiss Medtech (Moderation)

The panel discussion took place as part of the Swiss Medtech National Regulatory Conference «Navigating the Regulatory Jungle with a Swiss Compass».
Language: English

Panel discussion: How to set up a human rights management system?

Navigating the various laws and requirements regarding human rights can be challenging. What does an effective human rights program look like? Join us at the Ethics & Compliance Switzerland Annual Conference for the panel discussion “How to Set up a Human Rights Management System?”

The panel discussion was chaired by Matthias Leisinger, Director and co-founder of focusright. The following people also took part in the panel:

• Peter Nestor, Global Head of Human Rights Novartis

• Stephanie Ossenbach, Group Sustainability Officer dormakaba

• Rolf H. Weber, Professor at Faculty of Law, University of Zurich and practicing attorney-at-law in Zurich

The panel discussion took place as part of the annual conference of Ethics & Compliance Switzerland.
Language: English

Webinar: Adoption of the CSDDD: What do the new EU sustainability due diligence obligations mean for Swiss companies?

In this webinar, focusright provides an overview of the most important questions and answers on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) for Swiss companies. Topics include:

• Which companies are in scope of the CSDDD, and what elements of their value chain are covered?

• What topics are covered by the CSDDD and what due diligence obligations will be introduced?

• Next steps and getting ready: how can Swiss companies prepare for the CSDDD and the increased requirements of their EU business partners?

The webinar is organized in cooperation with the GCNSL and is open to all interested company representatives.

Webinar: Certifications, social audits and supplier management tools – What is their role in human rights due diligence?

Past webinar: download the slides or watch the recording through the GCNSL website

The objective of this webinar is to discuss the contributions and limitations of voluntary sustainability schemes in companies’ HRDD. focusright and representatives from Fairtrade Max Havelaar Switzerland, amfori and the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles will explain how sustainability schemes can support companies in the implementation of HRDD at different stages of their value chain, using practical examples.

The webinar is organized in cooperation with the GCNSL and the Swiss Federal Administration (SECO & FDFA).

Webinar: Introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence (in English, German, French & Italian)

Past webinars: download the slides or watch the recording through the GCNSL website

These webinars were organized in collaboration with the Swiss Confederation (SECO & EDA) and the Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein.

CLIENTS

When needed, we draw on specific expertise in our extensive international network of civil society, government, academia and business.