Rights and Accountability: States and Companies need to act on Business and Human Rights issues
The international conference “Rights and Accountability - The Way Ahead for Business and Human Rights” took place in Berlin 21-22 November 2011.
Conference participants discussed how the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights could be implemented both in Germany and Europe. The issues addressed included state duties with regard to human rights abuses by private actors, and effective remedies for those affected by corporate human rights abuse.
Danish light touch regulation on company reporting falls short
New research, released today by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ), highlights the failings of “light touch” regulation on company reporting on social and environmental impacts, reinforcing the case for mandatory non-financial reporting in the EU. The number of companies that reported on crucial corporate social responsibility issues increased only marginally in response to non-mandatory regulations.
The ECCJ, which has the backing of more than 40 companies across Europe, is urging the European Commission to introduce mandatory reporting requirements for large and medium-sized companies in the legislative proposal due next year.
Handover of 70.000 signatures to EU commissioner Tajani
As ECCJ has worked hard on the ‘Rights for People, Rules for Business’ Campaign, the coalition has seen the climax of the campaign with the handover of over 70,000 citizens’ signatures and the supporting pledge of 140 policy makers to the Commissioner for Trade and Enterprise, Antonio Tajani on July 12. ECCJ Board Members Paul de Clerck, Antonio Manganella and Filip Gregor joined Amnesty International Europe representative Nele Meyer to meet with Commissioner Tajani and discussed the recently published CSR Communication of the European Commission.
Press release ECCJ: The EU must take further steps to hold companies accountable
Tuesday 25 October 2011. A Commission plan about how the EU can make companies more accountable is a step towards ending the global damage European businesses cause people and planet, according to the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ). However, the plans to improve corporate social responsibility (CSR), unveiled by the European Commission today in the CSR Communication, miss the opportunity to make real progress that would help victims of EU-based companies find justice and hold companies accountable for their impacts.
Citizens and policy makers urge greater corporate accountability
More than 73,000 EU citizens and 140 elected representatives and MEPs have signed a petition, to be delivered to the European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, vice president Antonio Tajani today, calling on the Commission to hold companies operating in the EU legally accountable for any harm they cause to people and the environment around the world.
EU Round Table "Reconciling EU policies in the field of Trade, Business and Human Rights"
Brussels, June 23rd- Richard Howitt (MEP), the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, the International Federation for Human Rights and Friends of the Earth Europe to host a high level seminar on business and human rights in the European Parliament on Wednesday July 13th. This seminar will include participation from a number of MEPs, research experts and legal analysts, and business representatives.
New Report Sets out Roadmap for the Future of Social and Environmental Reporting
Monday may 23rd 2011: Press Release by ECCJ partner CORE Coalition on potential changes to environmental and social reporting.
Find the full report at: http://www.corporate-responsibility.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Simply-Put.pdf.
The focus of this report is on company reporting of environmental, employee, community, social, supply chain, human rights issues, as well as economic issues (eg. expansion plans, market position and dominance etc.) in recognition of the fact that these can have a significant impact on a company’s performance in each of these six areas. For convenience, these issues are collectively referred to in this report as ‘environmental and social’ (or ‘E&S’) issues, and ‘E&S reporting’ refers to reporting on a company’s performance in relation to these issues.
Press Release: United call for mandatory company reporting
Civil society and trade unions are today urging the European Commission to introduce new regulation requiring companies in both industrialized and developing countries to report on their environmental, social, human rights and governance impacts
The Mule and the Driver
Brussels, May 26th: Journalist Alma De Walsche embarked on a fact finding mission to Colombia to discover the negative affects of Union Fenosa's operations in the country. Civil society organisations have been fighting for years to have the numerous human rights and environmental violations brought to justice. The recognition of this fight is advocated by the Rights for People Rules for Business Campaign, particularly in light of the recent trade agreement between the EU and the Colombian government. Read and spead the word!
Campaign Update
3 May, 2011- A brief update on the progress of the 'Rights for People Rules for Business' Campaign. Continued support is welcomed through signing our online petition and passing the word on to as many people as possible.
OECD updates ethical business standards but fails to ensure enforcement
Paris May 25: Today, on its 50th anniversary, the OECD will formally adopt a revised text of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – 10 years after its last major review. The Guidelines set out government expectations for responsible business conduct. While there are valuable additions to the content and scope of the Guidelines, OECD governments failed to agree on more stringent measures to ensure company compliance. This compromises the effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines in resolving conflicts between business and society.
Solutions for victims of corporate abuse at fingertips of EU
New report launched at European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on CSR
Brussels, 29th November - As the European Commission hosts the 2010 European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) today (29th November), the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) launches a new ground-breaking report on how Europe can ensure big business respect human rights and protect the environment.
The Commission will finally tackle the corporate transparency issue
22nd April 2011 - Last week, DG internal market confirmed in the Single Market Act that they would address non-financial disclosure by private companies through a legislative proposal, due before the end of the year. This groundbreaking initiative comes after years of advocating for a mandatory reporting scheme by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).
Rights for whom?
In its latest publication "Rights for Whom?" the European Coalition for
Corporate Justice (ECCJ) reports on three compelling case studies of
corporate misconduct and shows how legislative change in EU law could prevent human rights violations and breaches of environmental standards suffered by local communities and workers.
Trafigura avoids prosecution for dumping waste in Ivory Coast
15th April 2011, The infamous oil company Trafigura will not be prosecuted for dumping toxic waste in Ivory Coast. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in The Hague in the outcome of the complaint proceedings initiated by Greenpeace to induce the Department of Public Prosecutions to initiate a prosecution. ’Trafigura will not have to answer for endangering people and the environment in Africa. A real missed opportunity. And a dark day for the victims and the environment in Ivory Coast’, commented Marietta Harjono, Greenpeace’s chief campaigner against toxic substances.
Dutch and French media focus on abuses in the Indian textile sector
Indian textile workers make clothing in harrowing conditions for clothing chain stores such as C&A, Decathlon and H&M. The workers are barely permitted to leave the factory site, are paid more than a quarter of their wages only after three years, and there are no trade unions. These findings were published by the Dutch newspaper and French newspapers in early September 2010, after a visit, together with ECCJ members SOMO and Manitese, to the textile and garment factory KPR Mill. The findings are also presented in ECCJ's report 'Rights for Whom'. Dutch political parties submitted written questions about this issue in Parliament.
