Business & Human Rights

OECD Publishes Reviews on Global Tax Cooperation

September 18, 2017

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published the first set of "peer reviews" in which governments rated each other on their compliance with the OECD's global standards providing for the automatic exchange of corporate tax and other financial information to combat tax avoidance.
Ruggie Praises Chilean BHR Action Plan

September 18, 2017

In a recent keynote address at the launch of the Chilean National Action Plan on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR), Harvard Professor John Ruggie praised the plan's connection of BHR action with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and called for BHR "due diligence" requirements for companies operating in the country.
Poland Produces BHR Action Plan

September 18, 2017

The Polish Government has published a National Action Plan on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR), considering current elements of Polish law that support BHR and "corporate social responsibility" and describing potential further measures to protect individuals from BHR violations.
Heineken Settles Dutch NCP Labor Rights Complaint

September 15, 2017

A post from nongovernmental organization OECD Watch illustrates how a complaint filed with the Dutch National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises over alleged labor rights violations by a Heineken subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo resulted in a Heineken payout of €1.1 million to the complainants.
Lawyers Explain Proposal for Global BHR Arbitration

September 15, 2017

A group of lawyers labeling itself the Working Group on International Arbitration of Business and Human Rights has produced a "question and answer" document explaining their proposal for a global arbitration system that would adjudicate disputes involving alleged violations by multinational corporations of the business and human rights (BHR) agenda.