106 results
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update Africa Quarterly Update: African communities seek justice in court
In Africa, the number of lawsuits to redress corporate human rights abuses is increasing as communities grow in confidence to sue companies both in domestic and foreign courts. Includes guest blog by Lawyers for Community Alternatives which explores the main obstacles to justice: lack of access to confidential, technical or hidden information.
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update Weekly Update 18 May | Corporate complicity in war crimes: Risks highlighted in Yemen & Colombia
Report claims arms exports by Spanish company Airbus to Saudi Arabia & UAE may have contributed to war crimes in Yemen; US NGO presents alleged evidence of how Drummond and Glencore subsidiary Prodeco Group allegedly financed Colombian paramilitary groups; Investors urge firms with ties in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus & other conflict-affected areas to adopt enhanced human rights due diligence requirements; Human rights groups join lead poisoning case in Zambia against Anglo American, argue S. African Govt. has duty to regulate firms operating internationally; Clearview AI agrees to limit sales of its facial recognition database to settle Illinois privacy lawsuit; Chicken from Brazil fed with soy supplied to UK supermarkets, linked to violations of Guarani Kaiowa Indigenous people's rights, says report; Office fire in Delhi that killed 30 workers exposes risk for more tragedies under new labour laws, rights body warns; IWGB union accuses Deliveroo of ‘cynical PR move’ after signing GMB union deal that allegedly fails to ensure min. wage for couriers; Talabat drivers in UAE strike for better pay as petrol prices soar following Deliveroo drivers’ successful action; and much more
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update Weekly Update 11 May | Transition mineral mining: Burkina Faso disaster & due diligence gaps
Burkina Faso mining disaster highlights human rights risks of energy transition mineral extraction; over 220 CSOs call for strengthening of EU's proposed corporate sustainability due diligence law to avoid legally mandating 'a tick-box exercise'; textile & garment workers in eSwatini continue strike for living wage despite intimidation & harassment by police & army; Colombian National Environmental Licensing Agency rejects AngloGold appeal for Quebradona copper-gold mine licence; Philippines Commission on Human Rights inquiry says carbon majors misrepresented climate science; research finds Xinjiang cotton traces in Adidas, Hugo Boss and Puma products despite promises to revise supply chains over forced labour allegations; family of deceased Nepali worker alleges working conditions in Qatar enforced by employer Galfar Al Misnad contributed to his death; and much more
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update Weekly Update 04 May | Intl. Workers' Day: Dubai drivers force Deliveroo pay cut reversal
Global Witness alleges International Tin Association certification scheme allows trafficking of conflict minerals from DRC likely used by Big Tech firms; Louisiana community alleges chemical co. Denka emits unsafe levels of carcinogenic chemical & attempted to weaken health risk assessment; Compensation & relocation packages remain uncertain as China Datang and Sinohydro prepare to start work on Mekong River dams; EU Court of Justice rules Germany's consumer protection association can sue Meta over alleged data privacy infringements; Workers in Saudi Arabia allege employers exploiting loophole & reporting ‘absconding’ workers as a means of retaining control after Kafala reforms; and much more
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update Weekly Update 27 April | Rana Plaza anniversary: Calls to sign & expand International Accord
30+ NGOs call on social media firms to strengthen human rights due diligence in crisis situations after analysing their responses to invasion of Ukraine; East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline ‘casting a shadow’ on TotalEnergies' green image campaign, says NGO; NGO accuses meat co. JBS of ‘greenwashing’ & calls on asset managers to divest as firm's carbon emissions increase by 54% in 5yrs; Trade unions & rights campaigners urge brands to help 1,500 garment workers at 2 Esquel factories threatened with closure; French court fines Deliveroo EUR 375,000 for hiring couriers as self-employed & not employees; 2 former directors given 12-month suspended prison sentences; Al-Qastal media co. has Facebook account suspended after coverage of al-Aqsa mosque raid & users allege Meta censors Palestinians; and much more
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update Weekly Update 20 April | Brazil: Dam-collapse communities complain re: Vale to German investors
Investor voices missing in corporate exodus from Russia; Tanzanian Govt. allegedly planning to evict 70,000 Maasai Indigenous farmers for business development; Pacific Gas & Electric to pay USD55mn & submit to 5yrs' oversight to avoid prosecution for major wildfires; Brandix factory in Sri Lanka accused of ‘crackdown’ against unions & CSOs who raised concerns after 1,000 garment workers infected at ‘superspreader’ event; Qatar World Cup: Belgian national team sponsors incl. Carrefour & ING won't use tournament for "commercial purposes", citing human rights concerns; and much more
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update Weekly Update 13 April | Ukraine invasion: Renewed calls for proactive due diligence by companies with operations in Russia
Activists allege Meta’s weak content moderation & double standards facilitate hate crimes; Malawian Attorney General apologises for arbitrary arrest & detention of journalist, vows Govt. will review media laws that restrict freedom of expression; NGO files lawsuit against Bumble Bee Foods over deceptive marketing claims & alleges forced labour in supply chains; Indian automotive parts co. JNS Instruments workers continue protest demanding unionisation after 130+ arrested; 26 CSOs call on oil co. Aker BP to reconsider terms of Lundin Energy acquisition due to human rights concerns; 10 Nepali migrant workers allegedly paid extortionate recruitment fees to Meridian Manpower & left stranded without jobs; and much more
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update Weekly Update 06 April | India: H&M signs binding union agreement to tackle sexual abuse
Human rights defenders & business in 2021 briefing | Protecting the rights of people driving a just transition; Commentary from Ukraine | How companies operating in Ukraine could better uphold human rights following Russia’s invasion; Children allegedly working on Ghanaian farms supplying Cadbury owner Mondelēz Intl. 20+yrs after commitments to eliminate child labour; Big mining cos. allegedly lead & finance 'chain of destruction' on Indigenous lands in Brazil, says Amazon Watch and Apib report; Former ATA workers sue Dyson alleging co. was unjustly enriched by exploitative conditions at Malaysian suppliers’ factory; Labour rights violations remain systemic in European supermarket supply chains, despite broad improvements, finds Oxfam benchmark; UK Export Finance allegedly knew of labour abuses & environmental harm at Middle Eastern & African projects prior to funding; and much more
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update Weekly Update 30 March: Labour rights concerns overshadow FIFA World Cup Qatar draw
Nokia allegedly helped enable Russian surveillance system; Uber, Bolt and Didi drivers in South Africa hold 3-day strike over costs & working conditions; Colombian community alleges air & water contamination caused by palm oil co. Oro Rojo remains unresolved; 103 Chinese migrant workers stranded in Sulawesi for 5+ months allege employers refused to renew work visas as project had been suspended; FinFisher ceases operations after accounts seized by German Public Prosecutor’s Office, after CSO criminal complaint alleging illegal export of surveillance software; Financial Times finds 'dozens' of cleaners employed by ADNH Compass & Farnek have paid recruitment fees; and much more
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update Weekly Update 23 March: Majority of companies operating in Russia fail to demonstrate human rights due diligence
EU, US, South Africa & India agree intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines; Nigerian Delta State communities demand justice after Conoil oil spill allegedly causes outbreak of waterborne diseases in only source of drinking water; Leaked documents allegedly show Solway Group knew it was polluting Lake Izabal in Guatemala, bribed local population & threatened journalists; 1,200 former Violet Apparel workers demand USD1.4 million unpaid compensation & damages after Cambodian factory closure in July 2020; P&O Ferries sack 800 British crew members via video message, replace with migrant workers reportedly paid GBP1.81 an hour; 3 cos. granted licences to explore mining seabed minerals in Cook Islands despite CSOs & end user cos. calling for seabed mining moratorium; and much more
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