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Briefings and reports

This section contains briefings and reports published by the Business and Human Rights Centre.

To see briefings in all our languages, switch ON the ‘Show all languages’ toggle at the top of the page or in the menu.

Transition Minerals Tracker: 2025 Global Analysis

Our yearly review underscores the critical importance of a just energy transition guided by three core principles: shared prosperity; robust human rights due diligence and worker, community and defender rights protections; and fair negotiation between business, workers and communities.

Highlighted releases

Justice in the transition: Litigating corporate abuse in the shift to clean energy for all

This year’s analysis of the cases in the Business & Human Rights Centre’s Just Transition Litigation Tracking Tool reveals a growing wave of litigation, with 95 cases across the world brought by rightsholders over human rights abuses in projects linked to the global shift to clean energy. These lawsuits are not a rejection of climate action; they are a demand for a truly just transition.

Videos: Canadian companies in Colombia

Canada’s reputation on the global stage is based on high human rights standards and progressive climate action. Yet in Colombia, communities affected by the operations of these industries report a litany of human rights abuses. This documentary series explores the uncomfortable gap between Canada’s image and its impact abroad, asking what happens when profit is prioritised over people.

Defending rights and realising just economies: Human rights defenders and business (2015-2024)

From January 2015 to December 2024, the Business & Human Rights Centre recorded more than 6,400 attacks across 147 countries against people who voiced concerns about business-related risks or harms. This is close to two attacks on average every day over the past ten years.

“We were treated as if we were machines”: Migrant workers powering Saudi Arabia’s energy transition

Testimony from 34 migrant workers employed on nine renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia reveals a litany of alleged human rights abuses. This briefing analyses the public human rights commitments of 16 companies linked to these projects and sets out recommendations for the sector.

The missing thread: Workers absent from fashion companies’ climate plans

Our analysis of 65 top fashion brands' climate strategies and direct testimony from garment workers and trade union representatives in Bangladesh and Cambodia reveals companies are driving rapid decarbonisation, yet workers are excluded from both planning and protections for a just transition.

Exploring shared prosperity: Indigenous leadership and partnerships for a just transition

Together with Indigenous Peoples’ Rights International (IPRI), we explore the case for a renewable energy transition that centres Indigenous Peoples’ rights, interests and prosperity, as determined by them, in pursuit of a global transition that is fast because it is fair and sustainable.

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214 results

  • briefing

    State of play: Migrant workers' rights in Qatar at World Cup kick off

    18 Nov 2022

    The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicks off on 20 November in Doha. Ahead of the tournament, we break down what labour abuse looks like for the millions of migrant workers employed by the private sector in Qatar.

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    Australia: Modern Slavery Act fails to drive 'race to the top' as new report tracks compliance failures

    17 Nov 2022

    New report from civil society & academia coalition shows companies continue to fail to comply with the Australian Modern Slavery Act and take action on modern slavery

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  • briefing

    Protector not prisoner: Exploring the rights violations & criminalization of Indigenous Peoples in climate actions

    10 Nov 2022

    This briefing, co-published with Indigenous Peoples Rights International, explores how climate actions which do not center human rights have been harmful to Indigenous peoples, as well as the scale of attacks Indigenous defenders face when protecting their lands, territories, natural resources, and communities from such projects. It provides examples of Indigenous resistance to harmful climate actions in Kenya, the Philippines, Russia, Peru, Nepal, Indonesia, and Norway, as well as related legal decisions upholding the rights of Indigenous communities.

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  • briefing

    Business and human rights defenders in Southeast Asia

    1 Nov 2022

    Human rights defenders across the globe are protecting our rights, natural resources and shared planet. Their work highlighting risks in company operations and supply chains and advocating for responsible business practices is vital to support a just transition to green economies and a more sustainable future for all. Despite this critical work, HRDs in Southeast Asia often experience high levels of risk and strong backlash. We explore the risks and challenges faced by HRDs raising concerns about business operations in Southeast Asia.

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  • briefing

    Investing in renewable energy to power a just transition: a practical guide for investors

    25 Oct 2022

    Renewable energy presents a singular investment opportunity, but human rights—especially the rights of human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples and communities, must be front-of-mind for the burgeoning industry. This guide helps investors make better decisions for a fast and fair transition.

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    Unpicked: Fashion & Freedom of Association

    11 Oct 2022

    We interviewed 24 trade union leaders and surveyed 124 union activists and labour advocates in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka on freedom of association during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly two thirds (61%) said the situation for freedom of association and collective bargaining has “got worse” since the pandemic.

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  • briefing

    Scrutinising migration surveillance: Human rights responsibilities of tech companies operating in MENA

    28 Sep 2022

    Digital surveillance tools are increasingly linked to allegations of human rights abuse in the context of border management and migration in the Middle East and North Africa. We analysed allegations and asked 24 tech companies which have allegedly produced or provided surveillance technologies to governments in the MENA region to respond to questions about their corporate transparency and human rights due diligence processes.

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  • briefing

    Business and human rights defenders in Asia-Pacific

    19 Sep 2022

    Human rights defenders across the globe are protecting our rights, natural resources and shared planet. Their work highlighting risks in company operations and supply chains and advocating for responsible business practices is vital to support a just transition to green economies and a more sustainable future for all. Despite this critical work, HRDs in Asia-Pacific often experience high levels of risk and strong backlash. We explore the risks and challenges faced by HRDs raising concerns about business operations in Asia-Pacific.

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  • briefing

    Forced labour risks, remedy and changing regulation: KnowTheChain investor briefing

    13 Sep 2022

    The risk of forced labour in global supply chains remains one of the most significant human rights issues for companies – and their investors – worldwide. Despite this, KnowTheChain data indicates major companies in high-risk sectors like apparel and footwear, ICT, and food and beverage are failing to identify risks and remediate forced labour in their supply chains. We set out recommendations for investors to play a critical role in interrogating human rights due diligence efforts and companies’ attempts to remediate forced labour.

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  • briefing

    Buffering rights: How Europe's new due diligence regulation can help reverse tech rights risks

    3 Aug 2022

    Europe’s welcome draft Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive has enormous potential to insist the tech sector transforms itself to end abuse, and contributes to shared prosperity and effective democracy. We look at the key areas in need of improvement to strengthen the draft Directive and shape a rights-respecting tech sector.

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