Business & Human Rights

Rhode Island Files Climate Lawsuit Against Energy Companies

July 16, 2018

The Washington Times reports that Rhode Island has become the first US state to file a lawsuit seeking damages from energy companies for their contribution to future negative impacts in the state caused by global warming.
NGO Issues Guidelines on Rights Observance in IT Supply Chains

July 16, 2018

The nongovernmental organization Germanwatch has published, with financial support from the German government, a report containing recommendations to EU institutions and the information technology (IT) industry on how best to implement the global human rights agenda and OECD guidelines in guidelines on minerals sourcing.
NGO Seeks Internet Infrastructure Adoption of BHR Agenda

July 16, 2018

The nongovernmental organization Article 19 has published a report pushing private internet infrastructure companies to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) by resisting pressure from governments to censor or surveil communications using their platforms.
UNICEF Publishes Corporate Toolkit for Child “Safeguarding”

July 13, 2018

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has published a global “toolkit” guiding companies on adherence to global human rights obligations pertaining to children and discussing how companies must “ensure children do not come to harm as a result of any direct or indirect contact” with their operations.
UK Committee Investigates Impacts of Fashion Industry

July 13, 2018

The UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has launched an investigation of the fashion industry, with a particular focus on disposable “fast fashion,” to determine whether Britain should subject the industry to increased regulatory scrutiny regarding labor rights and environmental harm.