Wide range of civil society organisations call on the UK to prioritise human rights in UN Treaty Negotiations
5 December, 2024: As the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) enters into the 10th negotiation session for a legally binding treaty on business and human rights, we, the undersigned organisations, call on the UK government to constructively engage in these treaty negotiations while simultaneously pursuing mandatory legislation on a national level to fulfil its duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including by businesses.
Second Reading of Baroness Young of Hornsey’s Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill in the House of Lords on 10 May 2024
Serious human rights abuses and environmental harms are still present in UK supply chains. The UK must urgently introduce a new law requiring all businesses and the public sector to prevent, address and remedy any harm to human rights, including labour rights, and the environment in their global value chains.[1] The Bill would: Enhance corporate...
A Business, Human Rights and Environment Act: Due Diligence to Protect the Environment and Achieve a Just Transition in Global Value Chains
This parliamentary briefing explains how a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act would protect the environment and contribute to achieving a just transition in global value chains. The briefing is part of a series of parliamentary briefings on a new Business, Human Rights and Environment Act. For more information, see this briefing on the general...
Cerrejón’s mining operations have led to the dispossession and displacement of 35 Wayúu Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities from their ancestral land, at times by brutal police evictions. The companies have been continuously expanding the mining operations and diverting streams used by the local communities throughout its operation. In 2005, Cerrejón extended its rail line and...
Communities in Liberia claim that Equatorial Palm Oil’s (EPO’s) oil palm plantations have encroached on their land, which was illegally cleared for plantation, and that activities went ahead without their consent. As a result, they have lost their livelihoods, and community members who protested faced violence and intimidation. Benefits promised by EPO to the community,...
An estimated 100,000 people live on or within five kilometres of three oil palm plantations, Boteka, Lokutu, and Yaligimba, operated by PHC in northern Congo. Local communities claim that part of the plantations sit on land that was taken from them by the Belgian colonial administration. Land rights defenders and members of the Yalifombo community...
Uyghur forced labour in murky value chains – the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (China)
The risk of forced labour in the value chains of cotton products from apparel to home furnishings exists at all production stages, from cotton picking to final manufacturing processes: it is estimated that one in five cotton garments on the global marketplace is connected to forced labour of Uyghur workers at some stage of its...
JCB: due diligence in the illegally Occupied Territories (Palestine)
Israel’s policy of appropriating land and establishing Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) has led to the destruction of Palestinian homes, agricultural land and other property for over 50 years. Israel’s building of Israeli settlements and transfer of parts of its civilian population into the OPT is illegal under international law and a...
Civil Society Statement – UK Engagement on a UN Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights
Ten years on from the introduction of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), voluntary initiatives have failed to have a meaningful impact on tackling abuse in business operations and supply chains. This includes modern slavery, unsafe working conditions, attacks on human rights defenders including trade unions, pollution of land and water,...
