Big Issues - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Labour Rights

The latest news on labour rights and our work supporting and advancing the labour rights of workers in global supply chains.

Myanmar garment worker allegations tracker

Myanmar’s military illegally seized power on 1 February 2021. Through collaboration with partners and allies inside and outside Myanmar, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is monitoring the significant increase in labour and human rights abuses of garment workers across the country since the military takeover.

Migrant workers in global supply chains

The ILO estimates there are over 169 million international migrant workers globally. In some regions and particular sectors, migrants make up the majority or a significant minority of the workforce. In each of the Gulf states, for example, migrants make up between 60 and 95% of the working population. Northern, Southern and Western Europe, and North America are also key receiving regions for migrant workers. Globally, in sectors such as construction, agriculture, transport and health care, migrants make a vital contribution. However, while labour migration brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to migrants, and to their countries of origin and destination, migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Modern Slavery

Tracking compliance with modern slavery legislation, strengthening corporate transparency and accountability and engaging brands to combat modern slavery.

Natural Resources and Just Energy Transition

Energy, minerals, land and water sit at the heart of the transition to low-carbon economies, and at the start of every supply chain. However, the use of our planet's resources is all too often entwined with human rights abuse. Find out why we must ensure that the transition is both fast and fair.

Shared prosperity models & Indigenous leadership for a just transition

News and resources from Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Business & Human Rights Resource Centre exploring the significant opportunity of Indigenous co-ownership of renewable energy projects, for an energy transition that is fast, just and equitable.

Just energy transition principles for human rights in business and investment

Extractives & Transition Minerals

Human rights impacts of the extractive industries and industry-specific initiatives to improve companies’ human rights practices

Technology & Human Rights

Technology offers powerful tools for society, but restrictions to digital freedom, and developments in artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, raise serious concerns about the impacts on human rights and the future of work.

Digital Freedom

Latest news and developments on declining digital freedom and key reports, guidance and tools

Gig Economy

Human rights implications and legal and policy rights protection frameworks for gig economy workers

Automation

Impacts of growing automation and mechanisation on work and human rights

Mandatory Due Diligence

The growing worldwide movement to legally require companies to undertake human rights and environmental due diligence.

National & Regional Developments on mHRDD

Find initiatives tracking and analysing legal developments

Companies & Investors in Support of mHREDD

List of large businesses, associations & investors with public statements & endorsements in support of mandatory due diligence regulation

Guidance for Governments on Human Rights Due Diligence Policies

Explore resources and materials

Gender, Business & Human Rights

Applying an intersectional approach is the most powerful way to tackle unfair treatment and transform the status quo. Gender justice must lie at the heart of business and human rights.

Tools & Guidance

Tools and guidance to strengthen connections between gender, business and human rights.

Research & Analysis

Unpack the gendered dimensions of different issues

Webinars, Videos & Podcasts

Watch and listen to different issues related to gender, business and human rights

UN Guiding Principles

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.

UNGPs Guidance & Implementation

See how companies and governments should implement the UNGPs

Background & History of the Guiding Principles

Find out how the UN Guiding Principles came to exist

Text of the Guiding Principles

The full text of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Human Rights Defenders & Civic Freedoms

HRDs’ work is essential to the business and human rights movement because of their critical importance for ensuring corporate responsibility and accountability. Yet, attacks on them are growing. This hub brings together news on these advocates and communities - specifically on land, environmental and labour defenders, guidance for companies and investors, and supportive business actions. It also links to our database of attacks and interview series.

Land & Environmental Defenders

Labour Rights Defenders

Company & investor support for HRDs

Corporate Legal Accountability

Corporate Legal Accountability (CLA) considers the legal responsibility of companies for human rights abuses, including through legislation and litigation. This hub provides latest news, analysis, resources, and cases on CLA to help advocates end corporate impunity for human rights abuses.

Lawsuit Profiles

Blogs & Interviews

Corporate Legal Accountability Updates & Briefings

Binding Treaty

In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council took steps to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises. Read about the latest developments, our debate series, and wider steps towards Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence.

Intergovernmental Working Group Sessions

The open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (IGWG) was mandated to elaborate an international legally binding instrument. This page includes resources on sessions and developments from the IGWG.

Statements, Initiatives & Commentaries

From NGOs, academics, governments and thought leaders

Second Revised Draft: Unofficial Summary

This unofficial summary of the Second Revised Draft of the Binding Treaty includes core elements on rights of victims, human rights due diligence, legal liability of businesses and access to justice.

Global spotlight

Putting the spotlight on urgent and emergent issues for the business and human rights movement.

Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory

While the international community has immense responsibility to bring the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza to an end, secure the release of hostages and end occupation, business also has an immediate responsibility to ensure it is not contributing to the horrific killings of Palestinians in Gaza or exacerbating human suffering across the region.

Russia and Ukraine

The Russian military aggression against Ukraine puts a spotlight on businesses operating in the region and their human rights responsibilities. Civil society calls upon companies to conduct heightened human rights due diligence, while some businesses including financial institutions, tech platforms, oil and gas majors are taking steps towards a responsible exit from the Russian market.

Chinese investment overseas

Guidance, cases and company resources for Chinese companies overseas.

Climate Justice

Business has an essential role to play in tackling the climate crisis.

Who's Who: Climate, Business & Human Rights

Organizations active at the intersection of climate change, human rights and business

Introduction: Links between Climate Change & Human Rights

Explore reports, principles, pledges & videos

Fossil fuel responsibility

Improving energy efficiency of business operations and shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy

Pacific Business & Human Rights

Building visibility on business and human rights challenges in the resource-rich Pacific region, where human rights abuses by companies have historically flown under the radar.

Voices from the Ground

Interviews with local activists, leaders and human rights defenders working in the Pacific region

Maritime Industry

Labour rights issues and human rights abuses in the maritime industry with a focus on seafaring, fishing and shipbreaking.

Seafarers

Fishing

Shipbreaking

UN Working Group

The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights was established to promote and support the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles.

Reports and statements to the UN Human Rights Council

Country Visits

The UN Working Group regularly conducts country visits to investigate business and human rights issues.

Making submissions

Where and how to submit information to the Working Group.

Major Sporting Events

Developments and coverage on human rights concerns related to major recent or future sporting events

Labour rights and the Qatar World Cup 2022

In December 2010, Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 World Cup. In preparation, Qatar is spending an estimated US$100 billion on infrastructure, including a new airport, roads, hotels and stadiums. The international media, unions and human rights organizations have shone a spotlight on abuses of migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. Major concerns include the exploitative “kafala” sponsorship system; lack of freedom of association / right to form unions; confiscation of passports; and harmful working and housing conditions. The World Cup provides an opportunity to push for change. This page features the latest developments on labour rights in Qatar and highlights the role and responsibilities of companies operating in Qatar.

FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board

An overview of the work of the FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board.

Trade and corporate accountability

Trade agreements have the potential to either support or undermine human rights around the world. This page brings together the latest news and analysis related to international trade agreements and their impact on human rights.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Many trade and investment agreements include investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses that allow international investors to sue states for compensation if regulations damage corporate profits. ISDS has been used to contest government decisions aimed at protecting rights and the environment.

The Energy Charter Treaty

The Energy Charter Treaty allows investors in the energy industry to sue governments over policies that damage the value of their investment - meaning that corporate profits are protected at the expense of the planet

UK trade policy

How the UK approaches corporate accountability and human rights when negotiating trade and investment agreements with global partners

COVID-19

COVID-19 has spread across the globe impacting millions of people. The outbreak has been accompanied by waves of misinformation, fears of increased government surveillance and factory shutdowns. You can find the latest news on the implications of the outbreak for business and human rights here.