Business & Human Rights

African NGOs Call for Expansive BHR Treaty

December 16, 2015

A document from dozens of African nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") calls for a binding treaty on business and human rights ("BHR") that applies to all companies, that requires businesses to complete human rights impact assessment for increased transparency, and that expands the power of national human rights institutions to advance the BHR agenda.
BHR Forum Maintains Focus on Binding Treaty

December 16, 2015

Dr. Shane Darcy of the National University of Ireland Galway reports that much of the focus of November's UN Forum on Business and Human Rights ("BHR") was on a UN treaty currently under negotiation that would bind governments, and perhaps businesses, to respect BHR principles.
UN Agent Calls for End to Investor Dispute Mechanism

December 16, 2015

In a recent op-ed, UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order Alfred de Zayas called for the abolition of investor-state dispute settlement provisions ("ISDS"), mandating state-investor arbitration in many trade agreements, and for a "world conference" to establish a binding treaty on business and human rights.
UN Initiative Pushes Investor Action on Taxation

December 16, 2015

The UN initiative Principles for Responsible Investment has published a report that guides investors on how to engage with and place pressure on businesses to implement the UN agenda on limiting corporate "profit-shifting" and tax avoidance.
Directors Take up BHR Criticisms of World Bank

December 16, 2015

Representatives of the nongovernmental organization Bank Information Center highlight growing criticisms of the World Bank from activists, recently voiced by a number of Executive Directors of the Bank, demanding that the institution fully consider their business and human rights ("BHR") concerns in funding development projects around the world.