Destination, Destination, Destination - What Governments Can Do To Ensure Fair and Ethical Recruitment

Migrant workers in all corners of the world are subjected to abusive and exploitative recruitment processes, including in many cases the payment of large recruitment fees to secure employment abroad. The recruitment of migrant workers has come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Whilst the spotlight has often fallen on…...view

How can Ukraine start a green recovery in the midst of war?

Is it possible to rebuild Ukraine in a greener, fairer way and can this be done while the country is still immersed in war? Two years have now passed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Tens of thousands have been killed and the fighting has caused immense damage to the environment. A…...view

Sophia Kagan on Technology for Responsible Recruitment

Listen on Digital platforms for migration can be a great tool for promoting transparency of recruitment processes for migrant workers and businesses trying to recruit workforce. They may also encourage improved government oversight of recruitment in countries of origin and destination. In this episode of Voices Sophia Kagan, ILO Chief…...view

The Glasgow 2014 Games and Human Rights – An opportunity to put the new Commonwealth Charter into p

“On the back of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) - which arguably set the gold standard for sustainability at a Mega-Sporting Event (MSE) – and London’s commitment to leave a lasting legacy, expectations for the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee are high.” This week the Queen signed…...view

When does conflict become a company’s business?

When an armed conflict as divisive and destructive as the one ongoing in the Middle East dominates public debate, what is the impact on business? Does the private sector have any role to play in such situations? Arguably, a business leader could think their organisation has little to be concerned…...view

‘SEAFAIRER’ Roundtable 2023

Marking two years since the publication of the Delivering on Seafarers’ Rights Code of Conduct and accompanying Self-Assessment Questionnaire, IHRB, The Rafto Foundation for Human Rights and the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, held the second annual ‘SEAFAIRER’ roundtable in Singapore on 28th November 2023. The event, held under the Chatham House…...view

“SEAFAIRER” Roundtable

NTUC, Singapore...view

“A Tale of Two Cities”: Launch of 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

On 12th November 2018, John Morrison, IHRB's CEO, delivered a speech at the launch of the 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) in London. This is CHRB's second set of results and reveals a disparity of performance among large corporations: “The good news is that some of the companies assessed…...view

“Beyond Governments” by Eddie Rich and Jonas Moberg

Making Collective Governance Work – Lessons from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative “Beyond Governments” is a rare thing – a book written on collective governance by practitioners who are still in the midst of practicing the art. In some ways, it is an autobiography of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative…...view

“Bittersweet Harvest” in Cambodia – A cautionary tale for Myanmar

In June of this year the European Union (EU) reinstated Myanmar’s access to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which provides for duty and quota-free exports to EU countries under the “Everything But Arms” programme, raising hopes for much-needed job creation in the country. Countries classified by the UN as…...view

“Going Out” in Search of Oil and Gas: How Should Chinese Companies Tackle Human Rights Challenges?

Amid soul searching for causes of the unexpected February slump in Chinese exports – maybe it’s the Chinese New Year, or perhaps the start of a real down turn? – China’s overseas direct investments (ODI) continue to flow vigorously. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), China’s outflows will match…...view

10 Years of the UN Guiding Principles – IHRB Salutes John Ruggie

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) have played a pivotal role over the past decade in advancing understanding and action on the responsibilities of business for respecting human rights around the world. In marking the 10th anniversary of this foundational framework, IHRB salutes Professor John…...view

2012 Consultation on U.S. Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma/Myanmar

In May 2012, the US President announced the decision to ease certain financial and investment sanctions on Burma/Myanmar in response to the democratic reforms that have taken place in that country over the past year. In July 2012, the U.S. Government implemented these changes to permit the first new U.S.…...view

2013 Consultation on Revised U.S. Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma/Myanmar

In May 2012, the US President announced the decision to ease certain financial and investment sanctions on Burma/Myanmar in response to the democratic reforms that have taken place in that country over the previous twelve months. In July 2012, the U.S. Government implemented these changes to permit the first new…...view

2016 Consultation on Renewing the U.S. Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma/Mya

Background In May 2012, the US President announced the decision to ease certain financial and investment sanctions on Burma/Myanmar in response to the democratic reforms that have taken place in that country over the past year. In July 2012, the U.S. Government implemented these changes to permit the first new…...view

2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

The 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) assesses the performance of 101 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world on a set of human rights indicators. The companies, from three industries - agricultural products, apparel, and extractives - were chosen on the basis of their market capitalisation and…...view

2018 TIP Report: Despite Shortcomings, An Opportunity for Continued Advocacy in Southeast Asia

The United States Department of State released its 2018 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on 28th June, ranking 187 countries on their performance in preventing and addressing trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation. The report was first published in 2001, following the adoption of the US Victims of Trafficking and…...view

2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark

The 2019 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assesses 200 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world on a set of human rights indicators. The companies, from four industries - Agricultural Products, Apparel, Extractives and ICT Manufacturing - were selected on the basis of their size (market capitalisation) and on…...view

2024 Olympic Bid Evaluation - A Human Rights Review of LA and Paris

On 5th July 2017 the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Evaluation Commission 2024 published its assessment of the LA and Paris bids for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Evaluation report focuses on four broad categories: Games Concept, Games Experience, Sustainability and Legacy, and Games Delivery. This briefing offers…...view

2030 is Today: How We Can Act Now to Halve Built Environment Emissions by 2030 – COP27

The building and construction sector is responsible for about 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. To achieve a net-zero built environment by 2050 we need to halve current emissions from 14Gt to 7Gt by 2030. This requires a systemic approach to reduce the entire whole-life carbon emissions. But what does…...view

30th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy

At the world's largest free literature festival in Jaipur in India in January 2015, IHRB's senior advisor Salil Tripathi led a conversation on the toxic legacy of the Bhopal gas tragedy, whose 30th anniversary was observed in December 2014. At the world's largest free literature festival in Jaipur in India…...view

3rd Annual Transparency in Myanmar Enterprises (TiME) Assessment

The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) today launched its third Transparency in Myanmar Enterprises (TiME)/Pwint Thit Sa report. The 2016 report shows that that the top companies which performed best in 2015 continued to be the most transparent in 2016. All of them have increased the amount of information…...view

A “New Deal” Between Governments and Tech Companies?

Robert Hannigan, the new Director of one of the UK’s intelligence agencies, GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), has taken over at a time when the agency is facing scrutiny on an unprecedented scale in its 100-year history. GCHQ has been directly implicated in bulk data collection practices and data sharing with…...view

A Business and Human Rights Treaty? International legalisation as precision tools

As the business and human rights agenda continues to evolve, further legalization is an inevitable and necessary component of future developments. But we need to ask ourselves what form it should take at the international level. What does experience tell us about the approach that would yield the most benefit…...view

A Business and Human Rights Treaty? More immediate actions would make a bigger difference

In the fifth and final part of our series on the implications of a proposed new international treaty addressing human rights abuses involving businesses, IHRB's Salil Tripathi offers his reflections on the road ahead. Imagine if all governments took their responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill human rights seriously, and…...view

A Business and Human Rights Treaty? Smart strategies are needed to close accountability gaps

This is the first contribution in a series. Despite the progress of recent years in advancing understanding and action on the relationship between business and human rights, gaps in legal accountability continues to be a subject of much heated debate. In the coming weeks, the matter will be on the…...view

A Business and Human Rights Treaty? We shouldn’t be afraid to frighten the horses

Those of a certain age may remember that quintessentially British comedy Fawlty Towers where the hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, has to keep reminding himself not to upset his German guests by mentioning The War. This is the position civil society organisations find themselves in with regard to Ecuador’s call for…...view

A Business and Human Rights Treaty? Why Activists Should be Worried

This commentary is the second in a series. The call by a group of states at the UN Human Rights Council to begin diplomatic deliberations towards a UN treaty on business and human rights has drawn the backing of a growing list of civil society organisations. Led by Ecuador and…...view

A Contentious Connection - Business and Women’s Rights

The relationship between business and women’s rights activists and advocates has always been contentious, and more frequently, rife with suspicion and hostility, especially in the global South. This is not, unfortunately, without reason. Not only has business been largely indifferent to gender equality as a larger social or development goal,…...view

A Dedicated Fund to Enhance the Capacity of Stakeholders to Implement the UN Guiding Principles

In 2012 the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General identified the lack of capacity among all relevant actors as one of the key obstacles to advancing the business and human rights agenda and the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Noting the scale of the capacity-building challenge, the…...view

A Glass Filling Up - Reflections on the first year anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Busin

Things did not look good. Last summer, in the immediate aftermath of the UN Human Rights Council’s strong endorsement of the Guiding Principles on business and human rights (GPs), there was a definite pause. After six years of John Ruggie’s thorough and exhaustive pursuit of a solution, and an intense…...view

A Just Transition for Communities: Can Wind and Solar Projects Turn Human Rights Lessons into Leadership?

Land acquisition without consent or compensation. Loss of cultural identity and traditions. Threats and violence against human rights defenders. These are just some of the human rights impacts Indigenous Peoples and other local communities face, among over 200 allegations against the renewable energy industry over the last decade as recorded…...view

A Landmark Standard for LGBTI Rights

Over the past year, we at the Institute for Human Rights and Business have worked closely with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to develop a new initiative to support companies in respecting and promoting the human rights of LGBTI people and civil society…...view

A Letter from the UK: Our Surveillance Debate

This commentary was originally published by the Center for Global Communication Studies I was recently invited to the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania to present IHRB’s Digital Dangers project on the ICT sector and human rights, and to discuss with students our recent study on how…...view

A Personal Tribute to Sir Geoffrey Chandler

Many people will write tributes to this great man, with memories of his warm friendship, his unerring courtesy, his delight in debate, his terrier-like pursuit of a just cause and his bluntness of expression when someone or some organisation he thought should have done better somehow failed to do so.…...view

A Proposal for an International Arbitration Tribunal on Business and Human Rights

We have attended many forums, conferences and seminars where participants are desperately asking why, after years of endless high-level rhetoric, there is no access to justice for victims of corporate abuse of human rights – a disgrace to society. For various reasons, national courts are able to deal with only…...view

A Sustainable Maritime Industry Needs to get Human Rights Onboard

Anti-corruption and climate change has been high on the shipping agenda. However, the human rights challenges for crew, in ship building, ship repair and not least ship-recycling are many and complex. The global maritime industry should build on that momentum and take collective action to increase its human rights performance…...view

A tribute to Chris Avery

As the opening session of the first annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva last December ended, I paused near the entrance of the main hall, waiting for colleagues. Standing beside me was my friend Chris Avery, the founding director of Business and Human Rights Resource Centre…...view

A Year of Growing Momentum to Protect Migrant Rights in Southeast Asia

Today, International Migrants Day, 18 December 2017, is a timely moment to review recent efforts in Southeast Asia on labour migration governance, ethical recruitment, and protection of migrant workers’ rights, particularly in the context of supply chains. This International Migrants Day also marks the fifth anniversary of IHRB’s Dhaka Principles…...view

A Year Since Covid – What Can Businesses Continue To Do?

In the year since the World Health Organisation declared the pandemic, 2.6 million people have died. On the day of the anniversary – 11th March 2021 – there were 118 million recorded cases, a figure that continues to rise by the hour, with more than 90,000 cases being in serious…...view

Abduweli Ayup on Government Use of Facial Recognition Technology

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player Abduweli Ayup is an Uyghur linguist currently living in exile in Bergen, Norway. He was arrested in Kashgar in August 2013 by the economic investigation team of Tianshan District, Ürümqi City and accused of false funding and illegally raising funds for…...view

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Accommodating the Spread – Migrant Worker Accommodation Driving COVID Infections (Pt 2)

COVID-19 and Migrant Workers As part of our continuing focus on the links between COVID-19 and the business and human rights agenda, IHRB is exploring the impact of the pandemic on migrant workers across Asia and the roles and responsibilities of businesses in addressing these challenges. Most of the 35million+…...view

Achieving a living wage for garment workers needs price-squeezing to stop

Grossly inadequate wages, workers protesting for increased pay, and harsh retaliation by employers are not new in the garment industry in Bangladesh, the world's second biggest producer of fast fashion. In recent weeks, negotiations over a new minimum wage for workers have sparked particularly violent demonstrations throughout Dhaka. The unrest…...view

Acting on India’s POSH Act

Workplace Sexual Harassment Law Needs Effective Implementation For more than a year, India has been stunned by women journalists, students, actors, and other women professionals throughout the country who have gone public with accounts of sexual harassment they have experienced at the hands of colleagues, supervisors, and other men in…...view

Addressing the Challenges Human Rights Defenders Face in the Context of Business

The Fourth UN Forum on Business and Human Rights took place in Geneva from 16 to 18 November 2015. It brought together over 2,300 participants from 130 countries. IHRB staff and partners took part in a range of sessions. Please note that unfortunately the original meeting report is no longer…...view

Adriano Nuvunga on Being a Human Rights Defender

In a recent conversation with IHRB's Salil Tripathi at the 2022 Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights Plenary, Prof Adriano Nuvunga spoke of the corrosive influence of money in politics in Mozambique, the threat of violence human rights defenders face, and the need for widening the space for human…...view

Advancing people and planet agendas in the GCC - how can it be done?

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are all facing challenges when it comes to balancing the need for urgent climate action with economic growth and advancing the welfare of workers. So how do you transform GCC economies to a new system that’s both sustainable and takes into account the welfare of…...view

Advancing transparency, accountability and action on urban land ownership

Who owns and shapes the city? On 28th November 2023 IHRB, Dark Matter Labs and It's Material co-hosted a workshop about advancing transparency, accountability and action on urban land ownership. The workshop delved into the critical theme of urban land ownership and its significant influence on shaping the present and…...view

Affordable Housing and Workers’ Rights - Lisbon

Cities are often where people experience the impacts of climate change and of climate action, which can raise living costs and socio-economic inequalities. In a series of local research cycles, IHRB is spotlighting eight cities, focusing on their built environment decarbonisation and resilience plans. This research series asks: how is…...view

Agnes Callamard on Corporate Responsibility in Saudi Arabia

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player The brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi columnist, at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last October shocked the world. Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur for extra-judicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, investigated the murder and has published a chilling…...view

Air pollution – the human costs are too great to be ignored

In 2010, I spoke at a conference on business and human rights to a corporate audience. At the end of my presentation, someone asked: “where’s the list of the human rights we need to consider?” I responded, noting, the (soon to be) UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights…...view

Ajda Cevc on Responsible Recruitment

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player Companies with operations in far-flung parts of the world are often reliant on workers from foreign countries working in factories that belong to sub-contractors in third countries. Using leverage systematically and judiciously becomes a challenge for companies. In this podcast with…...view

Alex Budden on Oil & Gas Companies’ Community Engagement

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player Alex Budden is the Vice-President of External Relations at Africa Oil Corp which is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya and Ethiopia as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its 45% equity interest in Horn Petroleum Corporation. Alex…...view

All Party Parliamentary Group Session on UK Premier League and Human Rights

Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary Committee Room G, London SW1...view

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights - Interim Report

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights (the APPG) is a group of parliamentarians who have come together to listen to a wide range of stakeholders involved in UK sport, at home and abroad, about how respect for human rights can be best integrated at…...view

Alternative Mining Indaba - Meaningful Company-Community Dialogue Remains a Key Challenge

The 7th annual Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI, Indaba meaning ‘conference’), hosted by the ecclesiastical Economic Justice Network, took place from 8-11 February 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa. The AMI has grown steadily since its inception in 2010, and this year brought together about 300 representatives from international and national…...view

Amicus Curiae Brief to US Supreme Court on Kiobel Case

In 2002, Royal Dutch/Shell was sued in US federal court by Esther Kiobel, the wife of Dr. Barinem Kiobel - an activist who was member of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and eleven other Nigerians from the Ogoni region. The group campaigned against the environmental…...view

Amina Bouayach on Business and Human Rights in Morocco

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player Amina Bouayach is the President of the National Human Rights Council in Morocco. She has been Morocco's ambassador to Sweden and Latvia and the Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights (known by its French acronym FIDH), and an…...view

Anatomy of a business and human rights treaty?

In July an Intergovernmental Working Group will convene at the United Nations in Geneva to begin deliberations about a proposed treaty on business and human rights. But what kind of treaty? The UN Human Rights Council decided in June 2014 to initiate a process to “elaborate an international legally binding…...view

Andrew Stephens and Simon Bennett on Delivering on Seafarers’ Rights

This Day of the Seafarer podcast brings together Andrew Stephens of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), and Simon Bennett of Swire Shipping to reflect on the ongoing maritime crew change crisis and wider human rights issues among the world’s 1.6 million seafarers. In conversation with IHRB's Francesca Fairbairn, they discuss…...view

Andy Hall on Campaigning for Migrant Workers in Thailand

Stream above or listen on your favourite podcast player In this interview, Andy Hall spoke to IHRB's Salil Tripathi about his work in Southeast Asia. He talked about the conditions migrant workers face, the challenges for advocacy, and the role of multinational corporations which source products from the region. He…...view