Updates & Resources
UN CESCR: the UK must establish a legal framework requiring businesses to conduct human rights due diligence.
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has published a new report assessing the UK’s adherence to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and urging the UK Government to introduce mandatory human rights due diligence requirements, guarantee effective access to remedy and prioritise sectors that are causing serious human rights violations beyond borders.
The Business and Trade Committee: The Government must introduce mandatory human rights due diligence to keep up with global reforms and avoid becoming a “dumping ground”.
As part of a recent inquiry launched to inform a new Employment Rights Bill, the Business and Trade Commons Select Committee has recommended that the Government should introduce mandatory human rights due diligience legislation to align with global legislation and consider the creation of ‘Failure to Prevent’ offences like those set out in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act.
Modern Slavery Act Committee: UK’s response to modern slavery has not kept up with the advances of other nations
The Modern Slavery Act Committee summarises that international best practice has moved beyond requiring transparency to requiring companies to perform due diligence on their supply chains, and take action to eradicate modern slavery in their supply chains.
Lola Young's Private Members Bill has second reading
Lola Young's Private Members Bill has it's second reading in the House of Lords. Anti-Slavery International explains why such ground-breaking legislation is urgently needed in the UK.
Private Members’ Bill in the House of Lords
In the Parliamentary session 2023-2024, Baroness Lola Young introduced a Private Members Bill in the House of Lords. The “Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill” had its first reading on 28 November 2023 and its second reading on 10 May 2024 before collapsing due to the 2024 election.
Corporate Justice Coalition: Time for change – MPs from across parties turn out for CJC event
At the end of May, CJC joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Rights to host the event “Levelling the playing field for UK companies: Mandatory supply chain due diligence to protect human rights and the environment” in Parliament.
UK Government opens consultation on “world-leading” due diligence law
The UK's new Environment Act 2021 (the "Environment Act") introduces a prohibition on the use of "forest risk commodities" in UK commercial activities, unless those commodities have been produced in compliance with local laws. It also introduces due diligence and reporting obligations in relation to "forest risk commodities".
Global Resource Initiative recommends the introduction of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence
The Global Resource Initiative is a government-convened task force which looked at measures to tackle deforestation and land conversation for global supply chains to have a positive impact on people and planet. It recommended the introduction of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for agricultural and forestry commodities with scope to extend it in the future. It was recommended that the financial sector should be covered by a similiar obligation.
Human Rights and Business 2017: Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability
Report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the UK’s commitment to human rights.