14 in all situations. It therefore also exists independently of an enterprise’s own commitment to human rights. It is reflected in soft law instruments such as the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). There can be legal, financial and reputational consequences if enterprises fail to meet the responsibility to respect. Such failure may also hamper an enterprise’s ability to recruit and retain staff, to gain permits, investment, new project opportunities or similar benefits essential to a successful, sustainable business. As a result, where business poses a risk to human rights, it increasingly also poses a risk to its own long-term interests. Q 8. Do enterprises have any additional human rights responsibilities? The Guiding Principles set the baseline responsibility of all enterprises as respect for human rights wherever they operate. Beyond that, enterprises may voluntarily undertake additional human rights commitments—such as the promotion of certain human rights—for philanthropic reasons, to protect and enhance their reputation, or to develop new business opportunities. National laws and regulations may require additional activities by enterprises regarding human rights in some situations, as may contracts with public authorities for particular projects. For example, a contract with a State for the provision of water services may require a business enterprise to help fulfil the human right to water. Operational conditions may also lead enterprises to take on additional responsibilities in specific circumstances. For example, enterprises may identify a need to make social investments, such as in local health care or education, in order to achieve or maintain support for its operations from surrounding communities (a so-called social licence to operate). Supporting human rights also forms part of the commitment undertaken by signatories to the United National Global Compact. Debate continues over whether there may be a responsibility for some enterprises in some situations to go beyond respect for human rights and also to seek to promote them. This falls beyond the scope of the Guiding Principles, which constitute a global standard of responsibility for all businesses in all situations and therefore focus on the responsibility to respect human rights. Respect for human rights is about an enterprise’s core operations—how it goes about its daily business. It is not about voluntary activities outside its core operations, however welcome these may be.