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...

The Compounding Impacts of COVID-19 on Migrant Workers Across Asia (Pt 1)

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...

When It Comes to Racial Justice, the Business and Human Rights Community Can Do More

It has been almost two months since the tragic killing of George Floyd at the hands of four police officers in the United States. The public outcry has sparked an unprecedented wave of support for Black Lives Matter (BLM) from all facets of society,...

The Magnitsky Effect – Economic Consequences for Human Rights Abuse?

What do 25 Russians, 20 Saudis, 2 Burmese Generals and some North Korean institutions have in common?  They are the first names on the newly-issued list under the UK’s ‘Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020’, the latest of several so-called...

Boohoo or Crocodile Tears? Worker Exploitation in a UK Apparel Factory

Online clothing retailer Boohoo is the latest company to find itself on the receiving end of press reports alleging modern slavery, exploitation and abuse of factory workers in supply chains. The UK based company is contending with how to respond to...

Black Lives Matter - A Moral Moment

Black Lives Matter 

IHRB is founded on a mission of equality and dignity for all. We seek always to be as inclusive as possible – in our research, outputs, convenings, and partnerships. But we recognise that we have not done enough to contribute to...

What Did You Do When Racial Discrimination Became the Defining Moment Across the World?

Black Lives Matter 

IHRB is founded on a mission of equality and dignity for all. We seek always to be as inclusive as possible – in our research, outputs, convenings, and partnerships. But we recognise that we have not done enough to contribute to...

What’s the Catch? Forced Labour and Trafficking in the Taiwanese Distant Water Fishing Industry

Seafood is one of the most traded food commodities in the world, with an estimated annual value of USD $153 billion. Around USD $42 billion of that is from tuna, a highly migratory species that traverse areas of our oceans beyond national...

That Blood on the Tracks was of People Abandoned to their Fate

Remembering David Petrasek

Before there were UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, there was a 184-page report, called Beyond Voluntarism, published in 2002 by the International Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP). That report said in clear language why we...

India’s Business & Human Rights National Action Plan

In December 2018, the Indian government initiated the process of developing a Business and Human Rights National Action Plan (NAP) by releasing a zero draft - with a commitment to publish the final NAP in 2020. The Indian Ministry of Corporate...

Interview with Bill Godnick - 3 Simple Questions on Business and Human Rights

I met Salil Tripathi in the mid-2000s when we were both working in Colombia with oil and mining companies and NGOs on security and human rights frameworks in conflict zones. I found he was a person not easily defined as a man from the Global South...