On 26 September 2023, Deputy Ombudsman Dr Jože Ruparčič in Koper, at an international conference entitled Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Green and Digital Tranzition, the co-organiser of which was the institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman, highlighted in the name of the institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman the commitment of the Ombudsman institution to sustainable development, care for the environment, and human rights in business and industry.

“Respect of the dignity of every single individual presents the foundation of our operation. Social responsibility of companies connects the care for both the environment and the individual into a holistic arch and represents a contemporary orientation of a democratic culture in business,” emphasised Dr Ruparčič, adding that sustainably oriented societies strive for an improvement in the position of employees and the business environment.

“In a contemporary society which values the development of knowledge and technologies, social goals should present a framework for democratic life and social welfare. Furthermore, the social responsibility of a state represents the ability of an individual state to ensure a high level of social welfare, economic and environmental sustainability, and the respect of human (economic and social) rights,” he added.

He also highlighted that economic development cannot be a goal per se, without also meeting general goals of the development of human society, including social and environmental, in respect of sustainable development and quality of life for all people. This is the socially responsible concept of economic growth that includes all individuals of a given society. Namely, the need for participation is one of the deepest human needs and it should be a right in the social sense. The participation of individuals in respect of fundamental human rights means that everybody must have an equal opportunity to participate in socio-economic processes.

Deputy Ombudsman Ruparčič continued to speak about the responsibility of CEOs, rule of business assessment, and social responsibility of companies. He stressed that social responsibility of companies is a bridge between business and society.

“Effective economic and legal systems dictate the implementation of the rule of business assessment and its integration into the legal system. This rule enables managers to work without fear, if they acted in good faith, and demystifies their responsibility for business decisions,” he said. Since most people are not keen on taking risks, many managers may be making their decisions within safe frameworks, which smothers innovativeness and creativity and decreases profits. Hence, the protection of managers from claims must be the subject of business assessment. He emphasised that a businessperson must know how to navigate between the interests of different stakeholders and build a bridge between them as well as treating them equally. Business ethics goes hand in hand with this and is of key importance.

The Deputy Ombudsman also said that it is essential to be aware that social consequences of managing are equally as important as economic ones. Social responsibility of companies is in this respect the responsibility for social consequences of managing. “The efficiency of corporate management and social responsibility go hand in hand. Social responsibility of companies brings conciliation to society, for it provides both free economic initiative and social responsibility for environmental, social, and universal social questions. Above all, social responsibility of businesspeople and economists is in their own interest since it brings awareness about their work and the contribution they make to society,” concluded Deputy Ombudsman Ruparčič at the conference.