UN-BHR

UN Group Considers BHR Obligations in Trade Policy

March 08, 2018

The UN Working Group on business and human rights (BHR) issues has announced as a priority for the year 2018 its development of "good practice models" for governments to follow when promoting trade and investment with other countries and when engaged as economic actors.
Attorneys Examine Canadian BHR Initiatives

March 07, 2018

Attorneys from Littler Mendelson analyze how the announcement by the Canadian government of the creation of an ombudsperson and an advisory body charged with monitoring business and human rights (BHR) issues fits into the Canadian scheme of human-rights litigation and implementation of global initiatives on responsible business conduct.
FIDH: BHR Treaty Must Address Conflict Areas

February 15, 2018

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a global NGO coalition organization, has called on negotiators of a binding UN treaty on business and human rights (BHR) to provide for "enhanced" BHR due-diligence requirements and potential criminal liability for companies operating in "conflict-affected areas," including Israeli settlements in "occupied" Palestine.
Briefing Lauds Steps Toward Binding BHR Treaty

February 14, 2018

A recent briefing from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the Global Policy Forum characterizes the October 2017 negotiating session for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights (BHR) as "one step further towards global regulation of business" and calls for NGOs and UN officials to "remain vigilant" of government attempts to block the process.
NGO Spotlights BHR Allegations in Chemical Industry

February 02, 2018

Demonstrating the interest of business and human rights (BHR) advocates in pushing corporate "due diligence" on a broad spectrum of social and environmental rights, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has published a briefing on allegations of human rights abuses by companies in the chemical industry against employees and local communities.
OHCHR Releases Report on Israeli Settlements List

February 01, 2018

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a report on the methodology it has used to identify over 200 companies that "facilitate" or "profit from" Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, warning it may not be possible for companies to comply with the global business and human rights agenda when operating in this region.
Report Evaluates Banks' Violations of BHR Agenda

February 01, 2018

Nongovernmental coalition group BankTrack has published a report reviewing examples of banks' alleged contributions to violations of the international business and human rights (BHR) agenda in their provision of financial products and services with the aim of encouraging more BHR due diligence among banks to prevent future financing of rights abuses.
UN Groups Seek Global Adoption of Gender-Pay Laws

January 29, 2018

Two UN human rights working groups have called on governments around the world to combat gender-pay discrimination using the example of Icelandic legislation requiring businesses with 25 or more employees to obtain an "equal pay certificate" showing they "have classified jobs according to equal value and have then analysed people’s wages accordingly."
UN Group Pushes WEF to Focus on Rights Agenda

January 24, 2018

The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (BHR) has called on governments and businesses convening in Davos for the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to work toward a "fairer economic system that spreads the rewards of economic development to all" and to base their strategic decisions on the global human rights agenda.
UN Agent Critiques Australian Delay of BHR Action Plan

January 16, 2018

The Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (BHR) has published a letter to Australia's UN office in Geneva expressing disappointment regarding the Australian government's decision not to develop a "National Action Plan" on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on BHR at this time.