The 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assesses 101 of the largest publicly traded companies in the world on a set of human rights indicators. The companies from 3 industries – Agricultural Products, Apparel, and Extractives – were chosen for the first Benchmark on the basis of their size (market capitalisation) and revenues and assessed across 6 Measurement Themes which have different weightings. Even though average scores are low across the board, overall companies tend to perform more strongly on policy commitments and management systems than on remedy or dealing with key risks in practice.

Average scores per region (source: CHRB 2018)

 

 

 

Some key takeaways from the results

  • Of the 101 companies surveyed, 40% failed to show any evidence of identifying or mitigating human rights issues in their supply chains, as required by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
  • The average score across all companies has increased since the pilot in 2017, but remains unacceptably low at 27%.
  • The research shows that, overall, businesses need to get better at ‘walking the talk’ by matching their paper commitments with clear, consistent action when human rights abuses or risks are identified.
  • Prada, Hermes, Monster, Starbucks and Kraft Heinz among companies scoring poorly.
  • Leading companies include Adidas, Rio Tinto, Marks and Spencer and Unilever.
  • Majority of clothing and agricultural companies failing to do enough to prevent child labour.
  • Virtually no companies demonstrate strong commitments to ensuring living wages are paid to workers in their own operations and supply chains.
  • Less than 10 per cent of companies commit to respecting human rights defenders (HRDs), including those HRDs exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, public assembly and protest.
  • There is a clear gap between companies acknowledging allegations and actually engaging with those affected.
Corporate Human Rights Benchmark - 2018 Key Findings DOWNLOAD

post

page

attachment

revision

nav_menu_item

custom_css

customize_changeset

oembed_cache

user_request

wp_block

acf-field-group

acf-field

ai1ec_event

Climate-induced migration and modern slavery
Publications

Climate change is devastating the planet, leading to intensifying global inequality as well as disputes over land, water, and scarce resources. People are being driven to migrate within and across borders in search of resources and income, making th...Read More

Sexual Exploitation: New Challenges, New Answers
Publications

The Fondation Scelles is publishing its 5th Global Report. Since 2012, year after year, this “world tour” of sexual exploitation aims to detect and anticipate its evolutions. What can we see today? Never have the factors of vulnerability been so...Read More

TAGS: Global
The Global Slavery Index 2018
Publications

Executive Summary Depriving someone of their freedom is a terrible violation. Modern slavery is a destructive, personal crime and an abuse of human rights. It is a widespread and profitable criminal industry but despite this it is largely invisible, ...Read More

TAGS: Global
Regional Overview – Sexual Exploitation of Children Middle East and North Africa
GuidancePublications

This Regional Overview on the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), consolidates the relevant existing data to map the context, risk factors, region-specific issues, responses and gaps in the fight against...Read More