Business & Human Rights

UN Rights Office Explores Non-Judicial BHR Mechanisms

January 04, 2017

As part of its "Accountability and Remedy Project," the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has released a "scoping paper" containing its research on how governments should improve their "State-based non-judicial mechanisms" to remedy alleged violations of the global business and human rights (BHR) agenda.
Dutch Officials Take Steps Toward Mandatory CSR

January 04, 2017

The nongovernmental organization MVO Platform reports ona two-step Dutch government plan to advance acceptance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives among Dutch businesses, first by signing agreements with businesses to promote CSR in their international activities, then mandating the acceptance of these agreements across entire industrial sectors.
NGO Criticizes "Disappointing" Swiss BHR Action Plan

January 04, 2017

The Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice has criticized the Swiss government's National Action Plan on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) for its lack of binding measures, including the absence of plans for legislation requiring companies to perform "due diligence" on their BHR impacts.
Italian Action Plan Implements Global BHR Agenda

January 04, 2017

The Government of Italy has published a National Action Plan, produced in consultation with a variety of stakeholders in business and nongovernmental organizations, on the country's implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR) and contributions to the UN's "sustainable development" agenda.
Activist Pressure Yielded Fossil Fuel Divestment in 2016

January 04, 2017

UN officials and environmental activists are celebrating a new report from the investment advising firm Arabella indicating that, under pressure from the growing "divest" movement led by nongovernmental organizations and global institutions, investment firms managing approximately $5.2 trillion have pledged to phase out their financing of fossil fuel companies.