Now the real work begins: Implementing the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers
The last decade has seen an explosion in the use of private military and security contractors by governments, industry, the U.N., and humanitarian organizations. Meanwhile, the means to hold these companies and their personnel accountable for...
20 March 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Meg Roggensack, Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University
The Glasgow 2014 Games and Human Rights – An opportunity to put the new Commonwealth Charter into practice
"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...
16 March 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Lucy Amis, Child Rights and Sport Specialist, Unicef UK; Reseach Fellow, IHRB
Progress in Corporate Accountability
Last week Human Rights Watch released its 2013 World Report. It includes an essay by Senior Researcher Christopher Albin-Lackey decrying the hard won and widely adopted UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (GPs) as being “woefully...
04 February 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by John Ruggie, Patron Emeritus, IHRB; Author, UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights
ICT and human rights: A roundup of 2012 and challenges for 2013
by Lucy Purdon, IHRB Programme Support Manager: ICT
Freedom of expression and privacy, two rights intertwined with the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, were very much in the spotlight in 2012. Balancing the two is not easy,...
22 January 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Lucy Purdon, Policy Officer, Privacy International
Foreign investment in Haiti – is the time right?
This week marks the third anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. The extent of the disaster and human suffering that resulted led to unprecedented international efforts focused on assisting the Haitian people to...
18 January 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Kelly Davina Scott, Regional Liaison Manager, IHRB Kathryn Dovey, Manager, National Contact Point Coordination, OECD
Coca-Cola’s Report on its Myanmar operations - a model for others?
The Coca-Cola Company recently submitted its first report on its Myanmar operations to the US State Department under the Responsible Investment Reporting Requirements required of all US companies investing more than US$500,000 in Myanmar.
In...
13 January 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Donna Guest, Independent Researcher; Research Fellow, IHRB
The UK position on EU membership: Are human rights relevant?
Tomorrow British Prime Minister David Cameron will deliver a much-anticipated speech on the UK’s future in the European Union (EU). The Prime Minister’s views, as well as a likely referendum, have resulted in pre-emptive statements from other world...
07 January 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by John Morrison, Chief Executive, IHRB
Human Rights, Business and the Dhaka principles
This op-ed was originally published in the Daily Star in Dhaka Bangladesh.
On this International Migrants Day, we are reminded of the plight of migrant workers around the globe, whether they are working in cities in their home countries or...
The Dhaka Principles for Migration With Dignity
"Over 200 million migrants contribute to the global workforce. Many struggle in low-paid and dangerous working conditions, are under-protected by home and host governments, and exploited by business."
On this International Migrants’ Day, painful...
17 December 2012 | Commentary
Commentary by Frances House, Senior Advisor, Special Programmes, IHRB
Engaging Business in Human Rights
This op-Ed was originally published on Forumblog.org.
International Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations on 10 December 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first international proclamation...
10 December 2012 | Commentary
Commentary by Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders; Patron, IHRB
What the WCIT could mean for business and human rights
Over the next two weeks at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), members of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will review a treaty called the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) for the first...
04 December 2012 | Commentary
Commentary by Dominique Lazanski
Page 28 of 37 pages.
ICT sector transparency reports: How do they help civil society defend freedom of expression
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...
28 March 2013 | Commentary
Commentary by Lucy Purdon, Policy Officer, Privacy International