RSS Feed for the Institute for Human Rights and Business http://www.ihrb.org Thu, 23 May 2013 20:19:46 +0200 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.ihrb.org/images/M_images/ihrb-rss.png http://www.ihrb.org RSS Feed for the Institute for Human Rights and Business http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/guest/taxing-human-rights.html This week, international development organisation ActionAid is launching a practical tax guide for investors seeking a more socially responsible approach to corporate tax. ‘Tax responsibility – an investor guide’ builds on growing concerns globally over tax avoidance and evasion by major companies and recognises the important role investors can play in encouraging responsible business activities. Our guide follows closely on the heels of IHRB’s new report to help investors address human rights risks. http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/staff/bangladesh-will-world-react.html This week another disaster struck Bangladesh's garment export sector. Over 250 workers – mainly women – died in the collapse of a building that housed four garment factories in Dhaka. The death toll is likely to mount as rescue work continues. http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/research_fellows/visit-of-un-working-group-to-the-us.html This week, members of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations are making an official visit to the United States (US) as part of the Group’s mandate to promote the effective implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The visit, only the second by the Working Group since its establishment in 2011, provides an important opportunity to engage all stakeholders on efforts to make respect for human rights part of mainstream corporate practice in the US. http://www.ihrb.org/about/programmes/multi-year-project-in-kenya.html http://www.ihrb.org/about/programmes/nairobi-process.html The ‘Nairobi Process: A Pact for Responsible Business’ is a new initiative being developed by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) in collaboration with the Kenyan National Commission for Human Rights which aims to embed human rights due diligence through the application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the emerging oil and gas sector in Kenya. http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/staff/ict-sector-transparency-reports.html Microsoft is the latest company in the ICT sector to publish a report showing how it complies with requests it receives from law enforcement agencies worldwide to release user data. These are known as ‘transparency reports’ and Microsoft is among the biggest companies in the sector to go public with such data. http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/guest/implementing-icoc-for-private-security-service-providers.html For the past eight years, Human Rights First has engaged in efforts to promote greater accountability for, and government oversight of, abuse by private security providers (PSPs). In 2008, we concluded that the U.S. government failed to effectively control PSP actions and the Justice Department was unable or unwilling to hold them criminally accountable for acts of excessive violence or abuse Private security contractors effectively operated under a culture of impunity. http://www.ihrb.org/news/2013/bjorn-edlund-hamilton-medal.html Bjorn Edlund will receive IPR’s highest practitioner award, named for Alexander Hamilton in recognition of the planned strategies used to gain the acceptance and adoption of the U.S. Constitution. http://www.ihrb.org/commentary/research_fellows/glasgow-2014-games-and-human-rights.html This week the Queen signed a charter setting out the Commonwealth's values and commitment to democracy, human rights and equality. The signing of the Charter of the Commonwealth – the content of which was agreed by all 54 Heads of Government in December 2012 - came 500 days before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. http://www.ihrb.org/news/2013/myanmar-centre-for-responsible-business.html The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (currently under formation) is being established to encourage corporate practices among foreign businesses entering Myanmar and local businesses that are consistent with the highest international standards.