This parliamentary briefing argues that we urgently need a new UK law to hold companies to account when they fail to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms in their global value chains. A Business, Human Rights and Environment Act (BHREA) would:
- Plug the serious legal gaps that enable companies to profit from the UK’s weak regulatory regime
- Improve the UK’s international reputation regarding human rights and the environment
- Create a level playing field, to ensure that responsible businesses that do take steps to prevent
human rights and environmental harms are not at a competitive disadvantage - Respond to the widespread business, political, and public demand for a new law
A new law is called for by UK civil society organisations, businesses, investors, and more than 128,000 people in the UK who have signed a petition. YouGov polling shows four in five people in Britain want new UK laws requiring British companies to prevent human rights abuses and serious environmental damage in their operations and supply chains.
