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Observers Call for Lower Barriers for BHR Liability in Italy
January 21, 2016
Business and human rights ("BHR") researcher Marta Bordignon and lawyer Giacomo Maria Cremonesi have published an article calling on Italy to include in its BHR national action plan measures facilitating the filing of lawsuits against corporations for alleged BHR violations and placing the burden on businesses to show they have sufficient BHR measures in place.
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UN, Law Firm Report Details BHR Risks for Banks
January 20, 2016
A report from the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative and law firm Foley Hoag LLP contains a legal analysis of challenges banks face in light of the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR"), domestic "hard law" establishing BHR duties and responsibilities, and "soft law" norms seeking to guide corporate conduct.
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UN Report Lauds UK "Green Finance" Initiatives
January 20, 2016
A new report from the UN Environment Programme applauds UK initiatives for placing pressure on financial companies to take into account social and environmental factors in their decision-making and calls for more action from Britain to promote "green bonds" and other vehicles that support the UN's "sustainability" agenda.
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Advocate Blames "Tax Havens" for Human-Rights Violations
January 20, 2016
In a recent essay, Paul Beckett of Quinn Legal seeks to explain how countries and territories with low corporate tax rates, such as the Isle of Man, which he identifies as a "tax haven," contribute to the violation of international human-rights norms around the world, including by impeding international development.
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News, Finance Companies Launch Climate Initiative
January 20, 2016
News company The Guardian and finance company Nordea have announced a new initiative through which they will promote "responsible investments" from banks and financial institutions that comply with and support the UN's environmental agenda.