Companies can be linked to attacks against defenders through suppliers, customers or other business partners. Both states and business actors are vital in addressing this risk and in moving towards a systematic protection of, and respect for, defenders as a cornerstone of any democratic society... Defenders around the world pay a high price when this responsibility is not adequately recognised. Since 2015, more than 2,000 business-related legal and physical attacks have been reported... [Defenders'] testimonies provide evidence of grave and systematic oppression of critical voices and point to common ways in which companies put defenders in danger: By contributing to existing tensions and exacerbating local conflict dynamics; [b]y cooperating with state-owned companies or state-prioritised projects in countries where governments target defenders, and [b]y offering resources or technology that can be used against defenders. [Refers to adidas, Anglo American, ArcelorMittal, C&A, Deutsche Telekom, Enel, Ericsson, Glencore, H&M, Inditex, Lidl, New Wave Group, Next, Rio Tinto, S-Group, Siemens, Tele 2, Telenor, Telia, Tesco, Vattenfall, Vestas Wind Systems].