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Article

28 Apr 2020

Author:
Christen Dobson & Ali Hines, Ethical Corporation

Commentary: Companies mustn't stand by as attacks on human rights defenders rise during Covid-19

[C]rises tend to place defenders and the civic freedoms that enable their work in yet more jeopardy, as we are witnessing now with the global Covid-19 pandemic. Colombian death squads are exploiting the pandemic lockdown to kill activists, people in the health sector in China are being arbitrarily detained for sharing information about the pandemic, and authorities are using surveillance technology to monitor and limit freedom of movement and assembly in countries across the globe... To thrive, businesses must respect and engage workers, communities, representatives and advocates, not act against them. There is a normative responsibility and a strategic imperative for businesses to safeguard those defending human rights... 

... Our key recommendations call on businesses and investors to:

  • Embed responsible business conduct into policies and management systems...
  • Identify and assess adverse impacts...
  • Cease, prevent or mitigate adverse impacts...
  • Track implementation and results...
  • Communicate how impacts are addressed...
  • Provide for or cooperate in remediation when appropriate...