"Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018: Action Plan", 10 Dec 2018

This Action Plan outlines what we believe should be the leading priorities for states, businesses, financial institutions, donors and intergovernmental organisations in bringing about a safe and enabling environment for the defence of human rights, as well as stronger and more effective protection of human rights defenders at risk, their communities, organisations and movements... Business enterprises have a significant role to play in ensuring that human rights defenders, community leaders and those they represent are protected from harm, particularly when business interests clash with the enjoyment of the fundamental rights of communities affected by projects, such as the right to a healthy and clean environment, labour and housing rights and the right of Indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent. We demand that business enterprises: Implement and support robust, transparent and effective human rights due diligence processes, including as set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, to ensure that the human rights of individuals and communities, including human rights defenders...are respected;...Adopt a policy of zero-tolerance towards acts of violence, threats or intimidation committed against defenders...; Make public statements on the important role of human rights defenders...