BHREA Business Statement for UK Human Rights Due Diligence
We, the undersigned businesses, business associations and initiatives call on the Government to create ambitious primary legislation – a ‘Business, Human Rights and Environment Act’ – to mandate businesses and the public sector to prevent human rights and environmental harm in their own operations and value chains by conducting human rights and environmental due diligence...
The UK Government – a member of the UN Human Rights Council when it unanimously endorsed the UNGPs in 2011 – was, until recently, a leader on these issues. It is now, sadly, a laggard. Mandatory HREDD is high on the agenda in the G7, and the EU is currently negotiating a directive which would also apply to UK companies over a certain threshold. Laws already exist in France, Germany and Norway...
A new law would increase legal certainty about the standards expected from companies, ensure consequences when responsibilities are not met, promote engagement and leverage between value chain partners and, above all, incentivise impactful and effective action on the ground. Investors also make a strong case in favour of HREDD legislation as it allows them to make more informed and sustainable investment decisions for people and the planet and demonstrate to beneficiaries that their money is being managed in line with international standards and expectations...
Finally, we renew our call on all governments to develop, implement, and enforce mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirements for businesses headquartered or operating within their own jurisdictions or, where appropriate, to further strengthen these regulatory regimes where they already exist...