ESG

Commentary: US Should Quit UNHRC over "Blacklist"

October 11, 2017

Benjamin Weinthal of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies writes that the US and other "morally-principled countries" should withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) if the body proceeds with publishing a database of all companies doing business in Israeli settlements, asserting that the database is part of a global, anti-Semitic boycott movement.
Lawyer: Create Global Approach to Labor Reporting

October 11, 2017

Amy Sinclair of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre writes that, rather than perpetuate an "international mishmash of misaligned laws" requiring corporate "due diligence" and reporting on forced labor in supply chains, governments, including Australia, must adopt a "consistent global approach" to mandating business reporting on these issues.
Activists Seek Accreditation of Fashion Industry on Rights

October 06, 2017

Elizabeth Winkler explains the growing effort by human rights activists to push fashion companies to halt self-monitoring of their supply chains based on their own codes of conduct and instead join accreditation schemes requiring them to investigate and report on efforts to rid their supply chains of rights violations based on global standards.
UNGC, GRI Launch Framework for SDG Reporting

September 27, 2017

The UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) have released a report that provides a corporate framework to measure and report contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the first step toward a uniform tool of comparison across businesses.
US Halts Corporate Race, Gender Pay Reporting

September 22, 2017

The Washington Post reports that the Trump Administration has preemptively halted the implementation of a rule adopted by the previous administration requiring companies with over 100 employees to report salary data on the basis of race and sex to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Lawyer Seeks Investor Pressure on Labor Rights

September 22, 2017

Dr. Fiona David of the Walk Free Foundation writes that, in order to ensure compliance with proliferating laws requiring reporting and "due diligence" on forced labor, investors must demand that companies in which they invest put in place policies aimed at ensuring respect for labor rights in their operations and supply chains.
UN, Tech Leaders Push for Innovative SDG Approach

September 21, 2017

The UN hosted a dialogue in which government officials and representatives from major tech companies stressed the need to harness technological innovation in pursuit of the UN's comprehensive social and environmental targets contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
New Zealand Directors' Manual Pushes BHR Agenda

September 21, 2017

Rob Stock writes that, in its recently published Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice, New Zealand's Institute of Directors include a chapter on how companies must implement the global business and human rights (BHR) agenda by, among other things, addressing and reporting on BHR risks in their operations and supply chains.
NGOs: Lower Legal Barriers to BHR Remedies

September 21, 2017

A report from Amnesty International and the Business & Human Rights (BHR) Resource Centre examines recent legislative initiatives seeking to lower barriers to remedies for alleged victims of BHR violations and calls for further reforms to enhance access to remedy, including permitting corporate liability for subsidiary conduct and expanding corporate disclosure requirements.
Trade Associations Promote "Sustainability" Agenda

September 19, 2017

In an op-ed, representatives from the UN-coordinated International Trade Centre and the Foreign Trade Association present initiatives from their organizations, including a "business social compliance initiative" and "trade for sustainable development" programme, seeking to persuade governments and businesses to adopt the "sustainability" agenda in their foreign trade practices.