Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

With our partners and allies worldwide, we seek to put human rights at the heart of business to deliver shared prosperity, climate justice and end abuse.   Our new strategic plan equips us to do just that, as our Executive Director Phil Bloomer and Director of Regional Programmes Betty Yolanda explain:

Join us with Amnesty International at the OECD - OCDE Forum on due diligence in the garment and footwear sector next week! We'll be exploring the importance of freedom of association in due diligence, how trade unions and collective bargaining are being undermined, and emerging opportunities for robust models for social dialogue and industrial relations in the fashion industry, with testimony from trade unions operating in sourcing countries and a case study of a brand-union partnership from the UK Speakers include: 🔵 Natalie Swan, Labour Rights Programme Manager and Kate Jelly, Labour Rights Researcher, BHRRC 🔵 Dominique Muller, Regional Researcher – Project on workers’ rights, South Asia Team, Amnesty International 🔵 Khalid Mahmood, Regional Urgent Appeals Coordinator, Clean Clothes Campaign and Director, Labour Education Foundation 🔵 Kalpona Akter, Executive Director, Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) 🔵 Zehra Khan, General Secretary, Home-based Women Workers’ Federation (HBWWF) – Pakistan 🔵 Matthew Fischer-Daly, School of Labor and Employment Relations, Penn State University – USA 🔵 Adil Rehman, Head of Human Rights, ASOS.com 📆 13 February - online and at the forum ⏰ 11:30 CET Register 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eJSZHhe4 #garment #fashion #humanrights #bizhumanrights #duediligence

We're looking for *2* new people to join our team working on natural resources and the just energy transition! 🔵 Senior Renewable Energy & Shared Prosperity Project Manager: Policy and Engagement - apply by 28 February 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dpaeDjwB 🔵 Natural Resources and Just Energy Transition Researcher & Advocacy Officer - apply by 28 February 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dQz4ZRAN #charityjobs #naturalresources #humanrights #justtransition #justenergytransition #bizhumanrights

The EU faced calls to freeze its minerals deal with Rwanda this week amid conflict in #DRC which saw 2,000+ people killed. For the African continent, half of the allegations of abuses we have documented involving copper and cobalt extraction – essential for Electric Vehicles and electrification - took place in the DRC. Coltan – a mineral essential to the manufacturing of electronic equipment has long fuelled conflict activity in eastern DRC. "End users, across all sectors, that source minerals from DRC now need to take three urgent actions," said Aliou Diouf, BHRRC's Francophone Africa Researcher and Representative. "Firstly, they must independently verify they are not sourced from mines controlled by armed groups. Secondly, they must use their voice to publicly call for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in the DRC. Finally, they should engage with the mining sector on respect for human rights." "Additionally, the EU needs to show that it walks the talk on responsible mineral supply chains. It needs to critically review its mineral supply chains partnerships in the region and ensure its conflict minerals regulation is tight. That means, among other things, maintaining the ambition of its supply chain law (CSDDD) which is now under ferocious attack from irresponsible businesses in Europe. This defence of the supply chain law will be a major spur for greater respect for human rights in many of the mines in DRC from which Europe sources minerals." #CSDDD #bizhumanrights #responsiblemining #conflictminerals #justtransition

This week in #BizHumanRights... 🗞️  Kenyan court finds carbon offsetting project used by major companies, including Meta, Netflix and British Airways violated Indigenous land rights Landmark settlement secures justice for Bangalore garment workers over COVID-19 wage theft after three-year legal battle ‘Unprecedented’ & opaque contract granted to US private security firm at Gaza checkpoint For more #BizHumanRights developments including allegations of corporate abuse, ground-breaking research and examples of good practice, read & subscribe to our Weekly Update newsletter👇

Today we’re excited to share with you all our new strategic plan for the next four years.    Swipe through the summary below to find out how it will drive our vision and mission: to work with partners and allies to put human rights at the heart of business to deliver a just economy, climate justice, and end abuse. #bizhumanrights

"To abandon these forward-thinking laws would display enormous weakness by the new commission to the United States, China and Russia. After years of an assertive Brussels Effect (in which many smart European standards have been adopted by business worldwide), it would signal a loss of confidence, leadership and direction." Civil society, businesses and investor groups have warned of the risks of an "omnibus" package which creates legal uncertainty and undermines progress on corporate sustainability. European lawmakers must hold their nerve, explain Heidi Hautala and BHRRC's Phil Bloomer. Read the full article via Reuters: https://lnkd.in/eaQn8aTv

The Resource Centre is hiring! 📣 We're looking for a Greater China Research Assistant to promote transparency and accountability for #bizhumanrights among companies operating in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as Chinese companies operating overseas. Apply by 16 Feb: https://lnkd.in/eR4jxu2i

Today marks 4 years since Myanmar's military seized power. More than 6,000 are thought to have been killed. But while some firms have exited the country, international businesses continue to profit. What does this mean for workers? And what should companies with operations or supply chain links to Myanmar do to ensure they aren't complicit? Read our analysis ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eeamXbkZ

Four years since Myanmar's military seized power, garment workers face dire conditions while making clothes for major international brands. Unsafe conditions and widespread abuse, combined with the threat of employers colluding with the military to keep workers quiet, has created a uniquely hostile environment in which to work. We've tracked 665 cases of alleged abuse since the coup, in factories with reported supply chain links to 187 major brands - including H&M, House of Fraser, BESTSELLER (Vero Moda) and many more. Brands must do more to ensure they are not complicit in abuse. We need to see stronger corporate commitments to heightened human rights due diligence, and where this is impossible, responsible exits from Myanmar. Explore all allegations and resources ➡️  https://lnkd.in/eC2G76fT