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Story

27 Jan 2015

NGOs call for German law reform to address intl. corporate human rights abuses

MISEREOR, Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) and the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) have released a report analysing several instances of alleged corporate human rights violations to explore legal strategies and make recommendations for German law reform. 

Where specific allegations were made that are not subject to legal action, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the company to respond.

  • E.ON have responded to allegations that they buy coal from Colombian suppliers allegedly linked to human rights abuses. 
  • EnBW have responded to allegations that they buy coal from Colombian suppliers allegedly linked to human rights abuses.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has already sought company responses for some of the situations outlined in the report. These are:

  • Addax Bioenergy - Previously issued an open letter in response to an ActionAid report on corporate land grabs in Sierra Leone
  • Drummond - Previously responded to allegations that they export coal linked to "death squads" in Colombia.  Lawsuit profile of Drummond available here
  • Cerrejón - Previously responded to allegations that indigenous peoples are being evicted as a result of their coal operations (most recent response, other responses)
  • Gas Natural Fenosa - Previously responded on assassinations of protest leaders in Guatemala (Spanish)

Please find a German language version of this story here.

Company Responses

Unión Fenosa (now Gas Natural) View Response
Drummond View Response
Addax Bioenergy (part of Addax & Oryx Group) View Response
Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg (EnBW) View Response

Timeline