Human rights: a guiding principle of corporate social responsibility

Abstract

Currently, the term Social Responsibility has been strongly associated with the corporate image, becoming a key factor to reflect the commitment acquired by an organization with its stakeholders, as well as with the implementation of actions that favor the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals. From this point of view, aspects such as the environment, good treatment of internal and external customers, community involvement in corporate policies, protection of human rights and long-term sustainability, allow organizations to carry out their activities seeking not only profit and economic growth, but also having a direct impact on the quality of life, sustainability, respect and equity. Seen from a business management and humanistic approach, CSR evaluates the level of organizational development in relation to the respect and promotion of stakeholders’ rights. Therefore, based on these postulates, we proceeded to characterize the socially responsible practices related to the human rights dimension carried out in 117 MSMEs engaged in the provision of services in the city of Ocaña, Norte de Santander. From a quantitative, non-experimental-transversal research, results were obtained that show how respect for human rights, equality and social equity are important aspects for the entrepreneurs of the sector, despite the fact that most of them do not have a methodology and/or strategy for the recruitment of human resources that contribute to diversity within their company. In addition, it is important to highlight that although the privacy of employees is respected, there are few situations in which they intervene to sanction discrimination. However, the effort of MSMEs in Ocaña to promote an improvement in the quality of life of their employees was evident.