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Opinion

This section contains opinion pieces from the business and human rights movement, written by both our global team and many authors outside of our organisation. These have been curated and published by the Business and Human Rights Centre.

In uncertain times, what are the certainties for our movement?

If the first few weeks of this year have shown us anything, it is that the only certainty in 2026 is uncertainty. What does this mean for the business and human rights movement? Our Executive Director Michael Clements looks ahead to the rest of 2026.

Opinion series

Road to COP30

Vital perspectives from our team, partner organisations and allies on the key business and human rights issues at COP30 - from the transformative potential of benefit sharing to what the renewable energy agenda means for Indigenous Peoples and workers.

Binding treaty 2025: Essential discussions and perspectives

Ahead of the thematic intersessional consultations held in April, June and August to prepare for the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on a binding treaty in October 2025, experts reflect on articles of the treaty that will be discussed and steps to take for concrete progress in the treaty process.

Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence

Experts from civil society, governments and business discuss what Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence could mean for advancing human rights in business.

All opinion pieces

Explore all of the opinion pieces we've written and received below. Open the filter to refine the list by topic tags or to enter search terms, and subscribe to the RSS feed to receive updates regarding new posts in your feed reader of choice!

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  • Series

    A ‘digital turn’ for sustainability due diligence? Digital tools and the CSDDD

    1 Oct 2024 Antoine Duval and Klaas Hendrik Eller, Digichain

    Klaas Hendrik Eller and Antoine Duval explore how digital tools will shape the reality of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

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    Labour abuse at suppliers’ suppliers – how should brands respond?

    1 Oct 2024 Karen Stauss, Director of Strategic Engagement, Transparentem; Áine Clarke, Head of KnowTheChain and Investor Strategy, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; Lennon Ying-Da Wang, Director of Policy on Migrant Workers, Serve the People Association; Joseph Wilde-Ramsing, Advocacy Director, SOMO

    In a recent investigation, Transparentem found evidence of serious labour abuses including forced labour indicators at more than a dozen material or component manufacturers in Taiwan. The findings point to an endemic problem affecting migrant workers in the country’s manufacturing sector. How should global brands respond?

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    The Case for Mandatory Regulation: Jurisprudence Showcases the Need to Move On from Self-Regulation in Tech

    24 Sep 2024 Druthi Suresh, Intern, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

    As technology continues to play an increasingly central role in society and in conflicts, human rights risks also grow. Clear, enforceable laws and policies that hold tech companies accountable for their actions, in part by demanding they identify the risks of their products and services for humanity, are needed to protect human rights and ensure that tech companies operate in a manner that aligns with the broader public interest, rather than merely prioritising their bottom line.

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    Unjust minerals: What can investors do to drive the changes needed for a just transition in the mining sector?

    20 Sep 2024 Antonina Scheer - LSE

    A just transition agenda for investors focused on mining would build on three priorities: respecting communities, protecting workers and developing local economies. With its vast impacts on land, mining must respect local communities, in particular through securing the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples. Antonina Scheer sets out a framework to help investors fulfil their role in aligning mining with just transition goals.

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    New Look and ITF’s partnership must be a stepping stone to wider change

    28 Aug 2024 Sue Fairley and Ruwan Subasinghe

    As fashion brand New Look and the International Transport Workers’ Federation enter a landmark agreement to protect transport workers in global supply chains, Sue Fairley and Ruwan Subasinghe make the case for mandatory human rights due diligence

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    Labour rights and the Damocles’ sword of randomised controlled trials

    20 Aug 2024 Nandita Shivakumar

    Nandita Shivakumar examines the labour rights pitfalls of randomised controlled trials in garment factories

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    Arms manufacturers and complicity in crimes against humanity in Gaza

    13 Aug 2024 Phil Bloomer, Executive Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

    Major arms manufacturers such as BAE Systems, Boeing, Caterpillar, and Lockheed Martin have achieved record profits and climbing stock prices amid Israel’s war on Gaza. However, these companies alongside global investors, are now the subject of warnings about complicity in crimes against humanity in Gaza.

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    Corporate responsibility to avoid complicity in genocide in Gaza

    21 Jun 2024 Dr Irene Pietropaoli, British Institute of International and Comparative Law

    What are the implications of the ICJ's identification of "real and imminent risk" of genocide in Gaza for corporations with operations or business relationships with or in Israel? Dr Irene Pietropaoli looks at the steps corporations must take in line with their obligations under international law not be complicit in and to ensure the prevention of genocide.

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    Worker organising as a remedy for forced labour

    5 Jun 2024 Jennifer Gordon, Professor of Law, Fordham Law School

    Effective remedies for forced labour must include the full participation and engagement of workers alongside binding regulation, including forced labour import bans and legally binding agreements, if they are to be impactful and durable, argues Jennifer Gordon, Professor of Law at Fordham Law School. This will guarantee labour rights and dignity for workers.

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  • Series

    CSDDD – A timid step forward in the fight against corporate human rights abuse

    21 May 2024 Jeffrey Vogt, Solidarity Center, Ruwan Subasinghe, International Transport Workers’ Federation & Paapa Danquah, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

    Key TU representatives welcome the approval of the CSDDD, but raise concerns over its ambition. They urge member states to take full advantage of the flexibility allowed to create stronger rules that will be more effective in protecting the rights of workers and trade unions when transposing into national law.

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