Shifting the balance of power: Four priorities to protect communities, workers and the environment from transnational corporate harm is a new report outlining key elements in a new UK corporate accountability law to make it work for the people most affected by UK companies abusing human rights and the environment.
Following years of campaigning for a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act (BHREA) by CJC and partners, the UK Government is finally looking into the adoption of new legislation as part of its review into responsible business conduct.
But to be effective, a UK BHREA must be grounded in the knowledge and insights of those most impacted by corporate harms – primarily, rightsholders in the Global South. Beyond requiring businesses to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence, it must crucially address the power imbalances that enable abuses to continue with impunity in the first place.
In an effort to create a model BHREA in the UK which responds to these needs, CJC co-hosted regional consultations with the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA), the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE), El Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (Poder) and Partners in Change.
Bringing together the perspective of experts from over 50 civil society organisations and trade unions from across the globe, this report makes recommendations across four key priorities:
- Recognising harm
- Addressing information imbalances
- Enabling access to remedy
- Ensuring preventative action
We urge civil society organisations, policymakers and corporate stakeholders working in this field to implement these recommendations and others made by Global South communities. However, first and foremost, we urge you to always engage with rightsholders directly – they know best how to address, prevent and remedy the harm they experience.
Posted by: CJC Team | Tagged as: Report
