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Article

23 Feb 2015

Author:
Mary Milne, Traidcraft via Fabian Society

Mind the justice gap: The abuses British companies get away with overseas

…[V]ictims of corporate abuse in countries with weak judicial systems have not been able to get their cases heard…As Western companies have grown and internationalised over the past couple of decades, the impact they are having on people around the globe has grown too. But while profits flow, accountability does not. The gap in accountability is well known…the UK government’s own National Action Plan reiterates that the state duty to protect human rights includes ensuring access to remedy…And in the absence of serious political leadership, the buck is being passed between civil servants in the Department of Business, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Justice…Today’s [Global Law] Summit celebrates the ‘Rule of Law as the cornerstone of a fair and just society’. We are proud of the UK’s legal tradition, but…too many overseas victims of corporate abuse by UK companies are denied a hearing in the UK…[Also refers to Acacia (formerly African Barrick Gold)]

Part of the following timelines

Global Law Summit 2015

African Barrick Gold lawsuit (re Tanzania)