In November, Peace Brigades International UK (PBI UK) and Forest Peoples Programme organised a pivotal week of advocacy in the UK. The initiative brought together a cross-regional group of human rights defenders, Indigenous and Afro-descendent leaders and community representatives from six countries—Indonesia, Colombia, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, and the Wampís Nation in Peru. These individuals are on the frontlines of combating corporate human rights and environmental abuses, with many having personally experienced harms associated with UK businesses.
From deforestation in Papua, Indonesia, to open-pit gold mining operations in Mexico, representatives shared one common experience: standing up to corporate harms comes with significant risks and national laws frequently fail to prevent environmental destruction or safeguard Indigenous peoples’ rights, land, and livelihoods.
The Case for Change: The Call for a UK Business, Human Rights and Environment Act
In discussions on effective UK support, the group underscored the urgent need for a mandatory due diligence law, grounded in international human rights standards and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Among their priorities was ensuring that UK law guarantees that businesses fully respect collective and customary rights, including the rights to self-determination and to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
PBI UK, Forest Peoples Programme, and the Corporate Justice Coalition are among multiple NGOs campaigning a for such a law, referred to as a UK Business, Human Rights and Environment Act (BHREA).
The week culminated in a series of impactful meetings with parliamentarians and civil servants in Westminster. The defenders spoke about their priorities for a BHREA, summarising insights form their discussions from the previous days. Their message gained traction, with Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick referencing the group’s work in a Parliamentary debate and the Minister for Latin America committing to further dialogue with affected communities and human rights defenders.
During the meetings, PBI UK launched and distributed its new report, “The Case for Change: Why Human Rights Defenders Need a UK Law on Mandatory Due Diligence”. The report includes six case studies that link UK companies to environmental devastation and attacks on human rights defender, making a compelling case for a UK law to ensure effective due diligence.
One such case is the El Bajío community in Mexico, where land defenders successfully stopped an illegal gold mining operation by a subsidiary of the UK-incorporated Fresnillo PLC. Tragically, three activists were murdered in their pursuit of justice, highlighting the grave risks defenders face.
How the International Community can Support Defenders & Communities
On the final day of the group’s visit, PBI UK hosted an event with Forest Peoples Programme, the Corporate Justice Coalition, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and other organisations to discuss the challenges and risks faced by human rights defenders and their communities, and how the international community can support them. The event featured an address by Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Colombian Indigenous rights defender Héctor Vinasco highlighted the importance of supporting local governance structures, community organisations, and the right to self-governance to help enable Indigenous peoples to protect their land, culture, and the environment. Tom Lomax, Director and Senior Lawyer of Forest Peoples Programme, emphasised the need for long-term and sustained allyship, particularly in securing land rights and tenure.
Eleanor Rosenbach, Director of the Corporate Justice Coalition, stressed the urgent need for a UK BHREA. She outlined the current gaps in UK law that prevent effective legal mechanisms to address human rights and environmental harms linked to business activities.
Rowan Popplewell, Policy Manager at Bond, echoed the call by a broad range of NGOs and defenders from around the world: that in order for the UK to adequately support human rights defenders, it needs to provide long-term, sustainable and flexible funding for civil society, as well as introduce a strategic and cross-cutting approach to supporting them. PBI UK also recently called on the new UK government to step up in the fight to protect front line defenders.
Mina Beyan, a human rights defender working in Liberia, summarised the cross-regional group of defenders and community leaders’ priorities for what a UK Business, Human Rights and Environment Act should entail. Topping the list were a respect for all international human rights standards (including collective rights, self-determination and self-governance) and safeguards for affected communities and whistle-blowers.
As proud sponsors of this event, the Corporate Justice Coalition reaffirms its commitment to amplifying the voices of those at the forefront of the fight for corporate accountability. Together with our partners, we will continue advocating for robust UK legislation to protect human rights and the environment globally.
News article and report “The Case for Change” was first published by Peace Brigades International.