Global spotlight
Businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights - even when States don’t fulfil their obligations. As global contexts shift, these responsibilities can have specific requirements, for example in conflict-affected areas and in high risk sectors, value chains and regions. In this section of the website we put the spotlight on urgent and emergent issues for the business and human rights movement, tracking the latest developments and adding our own research and analysis.
Explore spotlight areas
Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories
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 massacre 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
Chinese investments abroad have been rising fast since the government launched the “Going Out Policy” (走出去战略) in 1999. Project investments can generate welcome jobs and infrastructure in host countries. Yet they can also be accompanied by the forcible re-location of local communities, environmental pollution, and abuse of workers.
