68 Q 69. Why does this matter? As noted under Guiding Principle 22, an enterprise cannot meet its responsibility to respect human rights if it causes or contributes to an adverse human rights impact and then fails to enable its remediation. One of the most systematic ways for an enterprise to provide for the remediation of such impact is through an operational-level grievance mechanism. Unlike many State-based mechanisms (courts, ombudsman’s offices and so forth), an operational-level grievance mechanism does not have to wait until an issue amounts to an alleged human rights abuse or a breach of other standards before it can address it. It can receive and address concerns well before they reach that level and before an individual’s or a community’s sense of grievance has escalated. Effective grievance mechanisms also help reinforce aspects of the human rights due diligence process. They can help in identifying adverse human rights impact in a timely manner and in tracking the effectiveness of responses to impact raised through the mechanism. They can also help build positive relationships with stakeholders by demonstrating that the enterprise takes their concerns and the impact on their human rights seriously. Q 70. What is an operational-level grievance mechanism? An operational-level grievance mechanism is a formalized means through which individuals or groups can raise concerns about the impact an enterprise has on them—including, but not exclusively, on their human rights—and can seek remedy. As explained in the commentary to Guiding Principle 29, operationallevel grievance mechanisms are: “… accessible directly to individuals and communities who may be adversely impacted by a business enterprise. They are typically administered by enterprises, alone or in collaboration with others, including relevant stakeholders. They may also be provided through recourse to a mutually acceptable external expert or body. They do not require that those bringing a complaint first access other means of recourse. They can engage the business enterprise directly in assessing the issues and seeking remediation of any harm.”