BCQ tool represents an effective and operative tool for self-assessments that is designed specifically for companies in the Balkans, so they can be able to perform their functions while respecting human rights principles.
HRCA Balkan tool is based on the already existing tool: Human Rights Compliance Assessment (HRCA) which was launched in 2005 within the project Human Rights and Business Project (HR&BP) that was implemented by the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The HRCA is a comprehensive and reliable tool which is a result of a six-year research that involved 70 companies, 50 human rights organizations and 35 international human rights experts. The HRCA is designed as an internal tool for self-assessment by which companies can manage the risks in the area of human rights, monitor the effectiveness of their policies related to human rights, as well as procedures, and in the end – their performance.

From its beginning in December 2005, more than 400 businesses and other organizations from 59 countries around the world have been registered as user of one or more modules of the HRCA. The project “Human Rights and Business” has established cooperation with the United National Global Compact and their members can use HRCA to promote the Global Compact principles and, thereby can be used as a framework for progress report.

The development of the BCQ tool was based on the evaluation of risks related to corporate social responsibility in the region, and includes active participation of companies. The evaluation of risks was done by the following respected non-governmental organizations dealing with human rights:

• Albania, Albanian Human Rights Center,
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Association for Democratic Initiatives,
• Bulgaria, Rule of Law Institute,
• Kosovo, Association for Democratic Initiative Kosovo,
• Macedonia, Association for Democratic Initiatives Gostivar,
• Serbia, Human Rights Center Belgrade.