Business & Human Rights

NGO Lists Emerging BHR Issues for 2016

December 30, 2015

The Institute for Human Rights and Business has published a list of emerging issues in the field of business and human rights ("BHR") for the year 2016, including the provision of a judicial or other remedy for BHR violations, forcing businesses to become more transparent in their operations, and "climate justice" as some of the top priorities for countries and businesses.
NGOs: "Tipped" Minimum Wage Violates Human Rights

December 30, 2015

The nongovernmental organization Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and two organizations at the University of California, Berkeley, have published a report alleging that exceptions in US federal and state minimum-wage laws for workers who receive tips are a violation of international human-rights obligations.
Ireland Publishes Outline of BHR Action Plan

December 30, 2015

The Government of Ireland has published an outline of its national action plan showing how the country plans to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR").
NGO Calls for Countries to Perform HRIAs on Tax Policies

December 30, 2015

Arguing that corporate avoidance of taxes contributes to human-rights violations and to global warming, the nongovernmental organization Center for Economic and Social Rights has published a report calling for countries to perform human rights impact assessments ("HRIAs") to determine how their tax policies might affect the fulfillment of human rights in other parts of the world.
Academics Explore Effects of UNGPs on Land Acquisition

December 30, 2015

Dr. Jérémie Gilbert and Dr. Nadia Bernaz have published a book chapter analyzing the effects of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("UNGPs") on business obligations toward indigenous peoples when acquiring land on which they live, arguing that the "human rights legal framework" calls for business dialogue with affected people prior to "resource grabbing."