Over the past few decades, some of the EU’s largest and most well-known companies have been involved in appalling human rights abuses and environmental harm in countries across the globe. The companies have failed to address abuses perpetuated by subsidiaries or business partners in their global value chains, over whom they often have considerable control or influence. In many cases, the costs in these global value chains are kept down as a result – directly or indirectly – of those same abuses

The case studies clearly demonstrate how EU-wide mandatory cross-sectoral human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, with a strong liability and enforcement regime and improved access to remedy rules, would make a difference in these cases. There is already strong recognition of the need for change. The European Commission published a report in February 2020 highlighting the urgent need for regulatory action at EU level. Many EU and non-EU countries are already adopting or considering their own due diligence legislation. In April 2020, the EU Commissioner for Justice committed to an EU-wide initiative on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, to be presented in 2021.

A number of leading businesses and business associations have supported calls for the law, arguing for the need to level the playing field and drive a uniform standard. Businesses taking appropriate steps to respect human rights and the environment face considerable disadvantages if competitors profit from lower costs gained through exploitation and disregard for these issues. Only by introducing binding legislation can we truly protect people and planet, tackle human rights and environmental abuses linked to European operations, products and services, and finally hold EU-based companies to account.

Case Studies of Human Rights Abuses and Environmental Harm linked to EU Companies - Anti-Slavery International, 2020 DOWNLOAD

post

page

attachment

revision

nav_menu_item

custom_css

customize_changeset

oembed_cache

user_request

wp_block

wp_template

wp_template_part

wp_global_styles

wp_navigation

wp_font_family

wp_font_face

acf-taxonomy

acf-post-type

acf-field-group

acf-field

ai1ec_event

exactmetrics_note

Labor Inspection Training on Child Labor – Panama
Guidance

This facilitator’s guide provides tips and advice to help facilitators successfully use the curriculum for Labour Inspection Training on Child Labour in Panama. It describes the purpose and objectives of the training; provides an overview of t...Read More

Forced to beg Child trafficking from Guinea-Bissau to Senegal
GuidancePublications

Taking children from Guinea-Bissau to Senegal and forcing them to beg on the streets has become the most visible form of human trafficking in both countries. Many Quranic teachers and intermediaries’ prey on vulnerable families in Guinea-Bissau. O...Read More

TAGS: Africa
Delta 8.7 crisis policy guide
Guidance

In many ways, our understanding of the links between modern slavery and humanitarian crisis is still nascent. Just over five years ago, the United Nations held its first thematic debate on human trafficking, specifically condemning, “in the strong...Read More

Labor Inspection Training on Child Labor – Belize
Guidance

This facilitator’s guide provides tips and advice to help facilitators successfully use the curriculum for Labour Inspection Training on Child Labour in Burkina Faso. It describes the purpose and objectives of the training; provides an overvi...Read More