BHR

NGO Seeks Business Respect of "Right to Water"

August 26, 2015

Representatives from Oxfam America write that businesses must fulfill their responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by respecting the "right to water," through such actions as public commitments, impact assessments, and the establishment of grievance mechanisms.
Law Society Outlines Lawyer Role in BHR Agenda

August 14, 2015

Sarah Smith of the Law Society in the UK writes that in a world of "proliferating" standards and laws on business and human rights ("BHR"), including the UN Guiding Principles on BHR, attorneys are playing an increasing role in advising companies on risks from the BHR agenda.
NGOs Call for USAID Implementation of BHR Agenda

August 12, 2015

A group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") has called on the US State Department to include in its National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct provisions outlining the role of the US Agency for International Development ("USAID") in advancing the UN's business and human rights ("BHR") agenda in its projects around the world.
NGO Meeting Emphasizes "Climate Justice"-Human Rights Link

August 05, 2015

A workshop and side event hosted by the nongovernmental organizations the Business and Human Rights ("BHR") Resource Centre and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Geneva called for businesses, investors, and governments to emphasize the link between countering climate change and the UN's agenda on BHR issues.
Former UN Official Calls for BHR Integration into "Climate Justice"

August 05, 2015

In a recent interview, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland Mary Robinson called for the global human rights agenda, including the UN's agenda on business and human rights ("BHR"), to be the basis of immediate collaboration that will decrease the world's greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
KPMG Australia Acquires BHR Consultancy

August 04, 2015

As pressure rises from the UN and activists on financial and other companies to implement the global business and human rights ("BHR") agenda, accounting group KPMG Australia has purchased BHR and "social impact" consultancy Banarra in order to help advise its customers on human rights and social risks.
Papers Consider History, Future Trends of BHR Agenda

July 31, 2015

A paper from Professor Michael Santoro of Rutgers Business School considers the historical foundations of the business and human rights ("BHR") agenda - and the shift of focus by human rights activists from states to private actors - and introduces several studies of the future trends of the BHR agenda and a possible binding BHR treaty.
EU Outlines Next Steps on BHR Agenda

July 30, 2015

In a document reviewing the EU's progress in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR"), European Commission staff call for greater steps, both at the EU and the national level, to improve access to remedy for alleged BHR violations and other measures to advance the BHR agenda.
Lawyers Outline Proposal for Binding BHR Arbitration

July 29, 2015

A proposal from two attorneys on the website of the Institute for Human Rights and Business calls for the establishment of an international tribunal that would arbitrate alleged corporate violations of the UN business and human rights ("BHR") agenda and whose awards would be enforceable around the world.
Bloomer: NGOs Must Push for Successful BHR Treaty

July 29, 2015

Phil Bloomer of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre has published an account of the first session of the working group charged with developing a binding treaty on business and human rights ("BHR") calling for nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") to unite to advance the treaty effort.