Business & Human Rights

Resigning Official: UN Must Confront Companies on BHR

March 23, 2016

In her letter of resignation, former member of the UN Working Group on business and human rights ("BHR") issues Margaret Jungk called for the UN to do more to pressure businesses directly on fulfilling the BHR agenda, including through "missions" to and hearings on companies' BHR records.
Group Hosts Meeting on HRIAs in Tourism

March 21, 2016

A group called Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism recently hosted a meeting with business representatives in Berlin to emphasize the importance of human rights impact assessments ("HRIAs") in the tourism industry to comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Australian Law Council Pushes BHR Promotion

March 17, 2016

The Law Council of Australia has published a background paper calling on industries across the country, in particular the Australian legal profession, to "raise awareness of and encourage compliance with" the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR").
Paper Points out Extraterritorial BHR Jurisdiction Problems

March 17, 2016

A paper from the International Organisation of Employers argues that extraterritorial jurisdiction for courts in developed countries "is not a quick fix" for remedying business and human rights ("BHR") violations and calls instead for UN action seeking to strengthen national judicial systems in the developing world.
France Requires Disclosure of Climate, Social Financial Risks

March 17, 2016

The Climate Law Blog at Columbia Law School reports that the French Government has issued a decree requiring institutional investors to publicize how the companies in which they invest report environmental and social information and to disclose risks caused by climate change in their investments.