We are a global organisation working at the intersection of business and human rights, and with our leadership team on all four continents.

With partners and allies worldwide, we seek to put human rights at the heart of business to deliver a just economy, climate justice, and end abuse.

We collect evidence on the human rights performance, practice and policy of more than 10,000 companies in more than 180 countries, and take up alleged abuse quickly and directly with companies, inviting them to respond to specific allegations (over 1,500 per year).

This website is the only global business and human rights knowledge hub, delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news in 11 languages, and a Weekly Update reaching a community of over 35,000 in the Global South and North.

Our mission

We work alongside partners and allies, and within our movement as a facilitator, convenor, advocate and global action platform.

We aim to achieve our mission through three strategic goals:

1. Shared prosperity in markets to tackle inequality
2. Corporate duty of care for human rights and environmental justice
3. Safe and enabling environment in which communities and workers can advocate for their rights and interests, including through free and fair negotiations

We seek systemic change to protect human rights in business through shifts in government regulation and incentives for companies, as well as large-scale voluntary action.

You can find out more about each of these goals in our strategic plan.

Our strategic focus

In order to deliver on our broad mission, we focus on four priority programmes, which offer the greatest opportunity for systems change and the opportunity to respond to urgent global transitions, crises and immediate harms generated by irresponsible business and investment:

1. The rights of workers in global supply chains
2. The rights of communities seeking responsible natural resource use and a just energy transition
3. The rights of people to accountable digital technologies
4. The rights of human rights defenders to protection from attack and restrictions

In addition to these four priority programmes, there are two cross-cutting themes:

1. Access to corporate legal accountability
2. Promotion of gender and racial justice

You can find out more about these priority programmes and themes in our strategic plan.

How we make change happen

Our model of change is founded on the vital role of civil society to create transparency and accountability for human rights in business, and to provide innovative and inspiring alternatives to the business status quo.

Our main approaches are:

1. To build collective power with partners and allies
2. To influence decision makers in governments and businesses for smart business regulation and incentives
3. To increase corporate transparency and accountability, and promote large-scale voluntary action by better companies and investors

Our researchers – located all over the world – work with local communities to understand the impacts of businesses on the ground, and regularly talk with businesspeople and government officials.

We release briefings and analysis, synthesising and amplifying the work of hundreds of advocates across the world and make recommendations for companies, governments, regions and sectors.

Who are we?

We are 90+ colleagues, based in around 30 countries worldwide, all dedicated to our mission to put human rights at the heart of business.

We are a truly worldwide organisation, with a leadership team dispersed across all regions. We maintain close national networks and expert knowledge of local contexts through our team of researchers and other staff members located across all major regions, including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, North America, Latin America and the Middle East. They are supported by service functions. We are registered as a charity in the UK.

Our global team, senior management and board have extensive experience working in the human rights, development and environmental fields and as academics, philanthropy professionals, and former businesspeople. For more details see our Meet the Team and Our Board pages.