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VUB Researchers Renew Belgian 'Toolbox' for Business and Human Rights
BRUSSELS, 17/06/2026 – The Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), has made a crucial contribution to the renewal of the Belgian Business and Human Rights Toolbox. This practical instrument is specifically designed to support enterprises, government institutions, and other societal actors in anchoring human rights and responsible business standards within their global value chains. The renewed online guide can now be consulted via the updated federal portals.
The Toolbox is an important instrument to support the implementation of the Second Belgian federal Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, adopted in 2024. Within this framework, the academic work focused on two specific action lines: the update and simplification of the toolbox, as well as of the repository of instruments available in Belgium to guarantee access to effective remedy and grievance mechanisms. The renewed platform provides companies with concrete guidelines, practical examples, and self-assessment tools to identify, prevent, and address human rights risks in their operational activities in a timely manner.
A central component of the updated toolbox is the update and incorporation of the comprehensive guide on state-based remedy mechanisms. This registry maps public institutions, courts, independent complaint committees, and other formal channels where victims or affected stakeholders can turn when there are allegations of human rights violations linked to the activities of companies established in Belgium. In doing so, the project translates complex internationalstandards, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, into transparent and directly applicable procedures for the Belgian context.
The research and development at the VUB were led by Professor Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez. She previously laid the foundation in 2016 with the initial study on access to remedy and co-developed the first version of the toolbox in 2018.
"The renewed toolbox bridges the gap between complex legal obligations and daily business operations," says Professor Lizarazo-Rodriguez. "By offering concrete guidance and a comprehensive overview of remedy mechanisms, we aim to make international standards comprehensible for the private sector while simultaneously strengthening the legal position of individuals within global supply chains."
For the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Brussels School of Governance, this contribution confirms the strategic focus on socially relevant research that bridges the gap between academic expertise and public policy. This contribution is the result of the research line on corporate responsibility and access to justice that is currently developing other projects such as the ERC project Curiae Virides, or the FWO project on the EU’s Regulation of mineral value chains in conflict affected areas.
With the launch of the updated toolbox, a new phase of dialogue and networking begins.
More information on the toolbox for Business and human rights: Home | ToolBox
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez: Clizaraz@vub.be
Koen Stein
