UN-BHR

Italy Plans Expansion in BHR Criminal Liability

August 28, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Human Rights International Corner describes a planned measure in the Italian National Action Plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) by providing for corporate criminal liability in the case of BHR violations when a company fails to perform proper "due diligence" on its global rights impacts.
NGO Pushes Guatemala to Implement BHR Agenda

August 25, 2017

The nongovernmental organization the Unit for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of Guatemala has produced a "national baseline assessment" examining Guatemala's current implementation of the global business and human rights (BHR) agenda with the aim of developing a "national action plan" on fulfilling the UN Guiding Principles on BHR in the country.
UN Committee Outlines States' BHR Obligations

August 25, 2017

Human rights advocates Mary Mayenfisch-Tobin and Gabriela Quijano summarize a June general comment from the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights asserting that governments have obligations under international law to provide remedies for corporate violations of the business and human rights (BHR) agenda, including through prosecution of companies.
NGOs Call for Mandatory BHR "Due Diligence" in Germany

August 23, 2017

A group of global nongovernmental organizations has proposed legislation for Germany that would require companies to perform "due diligence" to monitor and remedy human rights impacts in their operations and their global supply chains, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR).
Ruggie Seeks New Path for Development of BHR Agenda

August 18, 2017

Professor John Ruggie of Harvard University has published an article indicating the limits of both voluntary and regulatory approaches to persuading corporations to take into account their human rights impacts and suggests the need for a new path, recognizing the "dynamic interplay" between these approaches, to advance the business and human rights (BHR) agenda.
UN Group Merges BHR, SDG Agendas

August 18, 2017

A document from the UN Working Group on business and human rights (BHR) highlights efforts by the UN to merge its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the BHR agenda, asserting that the SDGs cannot be achieved unless businesses implement their duties under the UN Guiding Principles on BHR and perform "due diligence" on their rights impacts.
Academics Explore NGO Strategy for BHR Treaty

August 18, 2017

Nadia Bernaz of Wageningen University and Irene Pietropaoli of Middlesex University have published an article suggesting useful strategies for nongovernmental organizations in negotiations over the development of a binding UN business and human rights (BHR) treaty, including securing the support of Western countries for the treaty.
Academic Explores Legislation on BHR Due Diligence, Reporting

August 16, 2017

Justine Nolan University of New South Wales has published a paper exploring how the UN and global human rights and environmental activists have succeeded in pushing countries like Australia to force businesses to use "traditional corporate concepts," including "due diligence" and public reporting, to advance the business and human rights (BHR) agenda in their supply chains.
NGOs Criticize Germany's BHR Record

August 16, 2017

Deutsche Welle reports that the nongovernmental organizations Germanwatch and Misereor have released a report documenting instances in which German companies violated the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and calling on the German government to establish a stronger framework requiring businesses to respect rights when operating abroad.
NGOs Urge Japan to Publish BHR Action Plan

August 14, 2017

A group of nongovernmental organizations has published an open letter to Japanese authorities calling on them to take "immediate steps" to publish a "national action plan" on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and the Sustainable Development Goals that reflects global guidance issued by the UN Working Group on BHR issues.