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...

Why Human Rights Due Diligence Must be a Mandated Concern of Corporate Boards

Last year Rio Tinto destroyed a 46,000 year old native cultural site at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia without the free, prior and informed consent of its owners – the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikara peoples. The company’s own internal...

Let’s Make the Living Wage a Pre-Requisite to ‘Stakeholder Capitalism’

At the recently-concluded World Economic Forum Davos Agenda 2021 meetings, leaders repeatedly stressed that social and environmental capital are integral parts of whatever new form of capitalism emerges to meet our existential challenges.

Companies...

Lessons from CIIR for the Business and Human Rights Movement

IHRB’s 10th anniversary report rightly notes the business and human rights (BHR) movement’s history predates its visibility over the last couple of decades, with multiple actors nurturing its evolution.

My recent work writing A Record of Change in...

The UN at 75 - Innovation, renewal and business has a critical role to play

The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) during 2020 has come at a time of great challenge. In addition to sending health and socio-economic shock waves across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has also worsened a number...

Sorry… I Dozed Off Reading Your Modern Slavery Statement

International Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October is a good chance to reflect on that most totemic part of the UK’s, and now Australia’s, modern slavery legislation – the corporate modern slavery statement.

It is nearly 5 years now since the...

Can Business Leaders Be More Effective Human Rights Advocates?

Here are some of my personal thoughts as I take up the role of Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Human Rights.

Recent events have once again posed questions about business’ role in society, particularly when it comes...

Keeping the Focus on Protecting Migrant Worker Rights - New Tool for Hotels in Qatar

When Qatar won the bid ten years ago to host the 2022 World Cup, many warned that the decision would put at great risk the over 2 million migrant workers that make up nearly 95% of the country’s workforce.

Some concerns around the World Cup...

Development Denied – Recruitment Fees Eroding Migrant Worker Remittances (Pt 5)

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...

Losing More Than Their Health – COVID-19 and Migrant Worker Wage Theft (Pt 4)

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...

Pandemic Prejudice – COVID-19 and Discriminatory Attitudes Towards Migrant Workers (Pt 3)

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...

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...