UN-BHR

New UNDP Human Rights Due Diligence Tool

September 22, 2021

The United Nations Development Programme ("UNDP") has published new human rights due diligence training materials and tools to help businesses prevent, mitigate, and account for potential human rights abuses in their operations and supply chains.
Rights Group files Complaint Against German Retailers over Chinese Textiles

September 08, 2021

The human rights group, European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), filed a complaint to German prosecutors alleging that several fashion retailers, including Lidl and Hugo Boss, profited from forced labour within the cotton industry in China's Xinjiang region.
Corporate Criminal Liability for International Crimes: France and Sweden Poised To Take Steps Forward

September 08, 2021

JustSecurity examines recent developments of the trend to hold corporations accountable for their participation in human rights violations and international crimes and how it is experiencing renewed momentum, especially seen in The Lundin Case in Sweden and The Lafarge Case in France.
Swiss Data Protection Regulator Outlines Framework for Transferring Data to the SEC

August 25, 2021

Following the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) requirement that those registered must maintain certain books and records, the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (“Swiss DPC”) released its framework for SEC registrants to be able to provide personal data in response to SEC examination and inspection requests, while maintaining compliance with Swiss data protection laws.
EU Issues Guidance for Businesses on Forced Labour Due Diligence

August 11, 2021

The European Commission and European External Actions Service published Guidance on Due Diligence for EU Businesses to Address the Risk of Forced Labour in their Operations and Supply Chains, reflecting the increasing trend towards mandatory human rights due diligence.
Senator Cotton Urges Coca-Cola to Condemn China’s Human Rights Abuses

July 28, 2021

Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), during a hearing of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, pressed Paul Lalli, global vice president of human rights at Coca-Cola on the company’s decision to act as a sponsor to the 2022 Beijing Olympics despite China’s human rights abuses against the Uyghurs.
Big Corporations Lobby for a New EU Legal Regime

June 28, 2021

Researchers at Corporate Europe Observatory have discovered a report that reveals how banks, lobby groups, corporate lawyers and lobby consultancies are pushing for a new legal regime that would enable industry to bypass national courts when settling disputes with EU member states.
G7 Deal Targets Tax Havens and Tech Giants

June 07, 2021

During a two day meeting in London, G7 finance ministers reached a landmark deal to obtain more money from multinational companies such as Amazon and Google, including a minimum global corporate tax rate of at least 15%.
Court Gives Green light to Irish Regulator with FB Data Flow Inquiry

May 17, 2021

Despite Facebook’s request to block an inquiry potentially halting Facebook's data flows from the European Union to the United States, Ireland's High Court has allowed the Irish regulator to proceed with the inquiry.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: New Promoting Mandatory Due Diligence Site

April 19, 2021

As the momentum grows worldwide among governments to require companies to undertake human rights due diligence, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has established a portal for promoting mandatory due diligence.