Business & Human Rights

Unilever Issues First Report under BHR Framework

July 13, 2015

Consumer goods corporation Unilever has become the first company to issue a detailed report under the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, a process of reporting on implementation of the UN business and human rights ("BHR") agenda developed by the nongovernmental organization Shift and the consultancy Mazars.
Business Groups Seek Limited BHR Treaty

July 13, 2015

In their observations on a UN working group's process in developing a binding treaty on business and human rights ("BHR"), a group of business organizations attempts to chart a middle way on the effort, welcoming engagement on such a proposed treaty but calling for it largely to track the previously issued UN Guiding Principles on BHR.
NGOs Push Global Enforcement Mechanism for BHR Treaty

July 10, 2015

In a submission to the UN working group developing a binding treaty on business and human rights ("BHR"), a group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") calls for the treaty to cover all human rights violations by all companies, no matter where the conduct takes place, and seeks an international mechanism that would directly enforce the treaty provisions.
NGO Paper Considers Wide Range of BHR Treaty Options

July 10, 2015

A white paper produced by the Institute for Human Rights and Business demonstrates the wide scope of potential provisions in a binding business and human rights ("BHR") treaty, including "establishing international criminal jurisdiction" for BHR violators and the individual right to bring cases before international BHR tribunals.
Activists Call for UN Body to Promote "Tax Justice"

July 10, 2015

A group of activists, attorneys, and academics have issued a declaration calling for a UN body to reform global tax rules to ensure that businesses around the world are sufficiently contributing to the realization of "economic, social, and cultural human rights."