IHRB works on a range of issues relating to trade and commodities, focusing in particular on addressing adverse human rights impacts associated with the extraction of commodities as well as efforts to improve the performance of actors involved in buying, refining, trading and transporting commodities across global markets.

Extraction is of particular relevance with the exponential demand for transition minerals (copper, cobalt etc) needed to accommodate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

  • Commodities: Under a mandate from the Swiss Government, IHRB has produced a guidance for the commodities trading sector on implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This guidance is available online at www.commodity-trading.org and IHRB has produced a series of guides to explain elements of human rights due diligence, which are available to download on our website. Our work on this issue continues through dialogue (including on copper and cotton) and outreach to highlight latest challenges and good practice and direction of travel.

  • We work with stakeholders in shipping to promote respect for human rights in the transportation of commodities, including publishing a Code of Conduct and accompanying self-assessment questionnaire and ongoing dialogue with shipowners and operators and their customers.

  • Natural Resources: IHRB works to embed human rights, transparency, and accountability standards in key industry sectors. For example, in Kenya we worked to foster dialogue and strengthen joint action linked to natural resource wealth and extractive activities. We engage with partners focussed on copper and cotton as commodities where companies, governments, trade unions and civil society leaders in different parts of the world must work together to improve human rights outcomes.