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...
02 November 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Recruitment fees are holding back sustainable development - how can this practice be stopped?
Migrant workers sending money to home countries and communities can be an enormous driver of development. But ongoing exploitation of migrant workers during recruitment places severe limits on the benefits of migration.
In 2023, remittances - money...
20 October 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Rakesh Ranjan, South Asia Regional Coordinator, IHRB
What human rights responsibilities do media companies bear during conflict?
Two weeks ago, Hamas extremists staged a surprise raid into Israel, in which more than 1,000 people were killed, and over 200 hostages were taken. Israel’s response has so far reportedly killed over 3,000 people in Gaza. A grave crisis is...
19 October 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Slavery is ever present - the UK must step up
Last week saw the much-delayed appointment of the 3rd UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a position that has been vacant since April 2022. The appointment of Eleanor Lyons, a former Government Advisor, is timely.
On Anti-Slavery Day, the UK and many...
18 October 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Neill Wilkins, Head of Migrant Workers Programme, IHRB
Respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities can advance the energy transition
In Norway this past spring, headlines showed protesters demanding the removal of wind turbines at the state’s Fosen wind park. The renewable energy project caused disruption to the reindeer grazing grounds of the Indigenous Sámi population and was...
25 September 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Grace Brennan, Programme Associate, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Existential risk or tool for inclusive prosperity? AI’s future needs human rights
Headlines are currently dominated by record-breaking heatwaves, catastrophic flooding, massive wildfires, and other extreme weather patterns in many regions. Responding to the climate crisis requires unprecedented actions and new forms of...
28 July 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Scott Jerbi, Senior Advisor, Policy & Outreach, IHRB
Human rights is essential teaching in every business school
We have come a long way from the time when companies argued that protecting human rights were only issues of state obligations, and corporations did not have any responsibilities or legal duties.
After years of civil society campaigning, reports by...
25 July 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Diversity needs defending - can companies rise to the challenge?
Companies that pursue diversity, equality, and inclusion programmes as part of their hiring and staff development strategies will likely face new scrutiny in the wake of last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action policies in...
07 July 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Pride 2023: A turning point for companies
Historically, companies have had to respond to activists denouncing their inaction related to the human rights of minorities in the countries in which they operate.
This year the discussion suddenly reversed.
June is Pride Month globally, and...
16 June 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Fabrice Houdart, Founder of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors
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...
15 June 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Désirée Abrahams , Senior Programme Manager at Global Action Plan
It’s time to mainstream the Just Transition
If there is a reason for why our next energy transition needs to be ‘just’, think no further than the 1980s in the UK. The country’s transition out of the coal industry divided communities and left regions and their people stranded and...
20 April 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by John Morrison, Chief Executive, IHRB
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...
06 December 2023 | Commentary
Commentary by Dr Sanchita Banerjee Saxena, Public Policy and Human Rights Expert; Lecturer; Research Fellow, IHRB