UN-BHR

Academic Argues for Strengthening of State Duties on BHR

December 08, 2015

Professor and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier de Schutter writes that countries should work toward a binding business and human rights ("BHR") treaty that establishes a government duty to implement the BHR agenda domestically and abroad and to cooperate to ensure a remedy for alleged victims of BHR violations.
Article Seeks "Mandatory Regime" for BHR Liability

December 08, 2015

An article by Professor Emeritus Upendra Baxi proposes that some basic treaty obligations to prevent multinational corporations from causing "mass disasters" grow into a "mandatory regime of multinational liability" for violations of the global business and human rights ("BHR") agenda.
Academic Seeks Moral Basis of Corporate BHR Respect

December 07, 2015

In a recent article, Professor Emerita Patricia Werhane seeks to reconcile the argument that corporations are not "moral persons" with calls for corporate "respect" of the UN business and human rights ("BHR") agenda by finding that businesses have "secondary moral agency as organizations."
Attorney Warns of BHR Treaty Noncompliance

December 04, 2015

Lawyer Bellinda Chinowawa writes that advocates of a binding UN business and human rights ("BHR") treaty should temper their expectations of government compliance with such an instrument and should instead focus their efforts on local-level work toward BHR regulation.
Norwegian Official Seeks BHR Pressure on States

December 04, 2015

Harriet Berg of the Norwegian mission to the UN writes that activists must place pressure on countries with little political will to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR") and heed lessons from a new UN human rights body that will guide states toward providing more access to remedy for alleged BHR victims.
Europe, NGOs Organize BHR Workshop for ASEAN

December 03, 2015

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ("ASEAN") CSR Network, with support from EU, academic, and governmental institutions, recently held a workshop for businesses, civil society groups, and government officials on how countries and companies in ASEAN should implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR").
Briefing Seeks Positives in NAP Process for Business

December 03, 2015

A briefing note from law firm Clifford Chance and nongovernmental organization the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights characterizes the development of national action plans ("NAPs") for the implementation of the UN's business and human rights ("BHR") agenda as an opportunity for "clarity" and "support" for businesses regarding BHR expectations.
NGO, UN Agency Guidance Seeks Child Rights in NAPs

December 03, 2015

The UN Children's Fund ("UNICEF"), International Corporate Accountability Roundtable, and Danish Institute for Human Rights have published guidance on how countries should incorporate children's rights into national action plans ("NAPs") for implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
IBA Seeks Bar Association Push for BHR Agenda

December 02, 2015

The International Bar Association ("IBA") has released guidance to bar associations around the world on how to "promote, launch and develop" initiatives to advance the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR") among lawyers in the business community.
Update Reveals Dissension on BHR Treaty

December 02, 2015

An update from Donald Robertson of Herbert Smith Freemills on the development of a binding treaty on business and human rights ("BHR") reveals that governments, activists, and organizations working toward the development of the treaty disagree on such a treaty's objects and scope.