Article

21 Apr 2015

Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice

Factsheet on initiative

"Factsheet: The initiative text with explanations"

The Confederation shall take measures to strengthen respect for human rights and the environment through business... Companies must respect internationally recognized human rights and international environmental standards, also abroad; they must ensure that human rights and environmental standards are also respected by companies under their control... Companies are required to carry out appropriate due diligence...Companies are also liable for damage caused by companies under their control...The provisions...apply irrespective of the law applicable under private international law.

Timeline

Switzerland: 21 investors with CHF459 bn in assets call on parliament & Federal Council to adopt comprehensive legislation on corporate environmental & human rights due diligence

Date:

21 Mar 2023

Content Type:

Article

In a letter co-signed by 21 Swiss and international institutional investors, the Ethos Foundation urges the Swiss parliament and the Federal Council to strengthen the environmental and human rights obligations of Swiss companies.
Commentary: Cobalt must be included in Swiss responsible business legislation

Date:

4 Jun 2021

Content Type:

Article

The authors argue that Switzerland should require responsible sourcing of cobalt under its proposed due diligence legislation, as the mineral's adverse human rights impacts are often overlooked
Switzerland: Responsible Business Initiative rejected at ballot box despite gaining 50.7% of popular vote

Date:

30 Nov 2020

Content Type:

Article

Ten years in the making, a proposal to hold Swiss companies accountable for their actions abroad was rejected in a nationwide vote on Sunday despite it winning majority popular support.
Swiss to decide on mandatory due diligence and corporate liability in what is expected to be a "knife-edge" vote on Sunday

Date:

27 Nov 2020

Content Type:

Article

Sunday's public referendum includes due diligence obligations for Swiss companies and possible liability for human rights and environmental abuses abroad.
CERDE & ACCA issue joint statement on recent position taken by Burkinabe Minister of Commerce on the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

20 Nov 2020

Content Type:

Article

During a recent visit to Bern, the Burkinabe Minister of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts marked his disagreement with the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative. Since then, CERDE and ACCA have issued a statement condemning this stance, saying it contradicts the official positions of Burkina Faso regarding the respect by multinational companies of human rights and the environment.
Swiss Responsible Business Initiative enjoys solid support ahead of public referendum on 29 November

Date:

2 Nov 2020

Content Type:

Article

A proposal to impose due diligence rules on Swiss-based firms active abroad currently stands a chance of winning voters’ approval, pollsters say.
Switzerland: Proposed due diligence regulation would promote effectiveness of Swiss development cooperation, say academics

Date:

2 Nov 2020

Content Type:

Article

In a joint statement, professors of development economics at different Swiss universities say they believe the Responsible Business Initiative is a suitable instrument for ensuring that the activities of Swiss companies in developing countries promote, rather than impede development.
Swiss Parliament adopts reporting-focused proposal

Date:

9 Jun 2020

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland to hold referendum on proposed human rights due diligence law

Date:

9 Jun 2020

Content Type:

Article
Swiss Responsible Business Initiative: Parliamentary committee opts for proposal without liability rules; public to vote in autumn 2020

Date:

5 Jun 2020

Content Type:

Article
Support for public Responsible Business Initiative continues to grow

Date:

26 May 2020

Content Type:

Article
Swiss parliamentary process on mandatory human rights due diligence proposal approaches final stage

Date:

26 May 2020

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Lower House reaffirms commitment to proposed human rights due diligence legislation

Date:

6 Mar 2020

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Legal Affairs Committee of Lower House reaffirms commitment to proposed human rights due diligence legislation

Date:

31 Jan 2020

Content Type:

Article
UN experts raise concerns over Swiss Government's position on 'Responsible Business Initiative'

Date:

10 Oct 2019

Content Type:

Article
Swiss upper house debate on proposed human rights due diligence legislation postponed

Date:

30 Sep 2019

Content Type:

Article
Unofficial translation: Statement of the initiative committee on the counter-proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

10 Sep 2019

Content Type:

Article
Legal Affairs Committee of Swiss upper house supports civil liability of companies

Date:

9 Sep 2019

Content Type:

Article
Legal Affairs Committee of Swiss upper house affirms political will for an indirect counter-proposal to Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

20 Aug 2019

Content Type:

Article
Swiss National Council insists on Responsible Business counter-proposal

Date:

13 Jun 2019

Content Type:

Article
Swiss National Council votes in favour of pursuing an amended proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

13 Jun 2019

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland weighs the merits of mandatory human rights due diligence

Date:

13 Jun 2019

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Investors call on parliamentarians to support legislation for mandatory human rights due diligence

Date:

11 Jun 2019

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Responsible business initiative heads closer to public vote as Council of States rejects counter-proposal

Date:

13 Mar 2019

Content Type:

Article
Commentary: Another step towards the adoption of a mandatory HRDD bill in Switzerland

Date:

19 Jul 2018

Content Type:

Article
How does the parliamentary counter-proposal differ from the popular initiative (RBI)?

Date:

1 Jul 2018

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Natl. Council adopts corporate human rights due diligence bill; NGO calls it a compromise but welcomes step forward

Date:

19 Jun 2018

Content Type:

Article
Responsible Business debate could cause ripple effects globally

Date:

14 Jun 2018

Content Type:

Article
John Ruggie's statement emphasizes importance of reaching workable compromise on Swiss Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

11 Jun 2018

Content Type:

Article
Full text of Swiss Parliament's counter-proposal to the responsible business initiative available in English

Date:

18 May 2018

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Legal Affairs Committee proposes indirect counter-proposal to responsible business initiative

Date:

24 Apr 2018

Content Type:

Article
John Ruggie weighs in on Swiss debate on mandatory human rights due diligence

Date:

26 Mar 2018

Content Type:

Article
Business & human rights - what Swiss companies need to know

Date:

27 Nov 2017

Content Type:

Article
Commentary: Paradise Papers fuel Swiss responsible business initiative

Date:

16 Nov 2017

Content Type:

Article
Swiss Parliament decides to issue counter-proposal to referendum initiative on responsible business conduct

Date:

14 Nov 2017

Content Type:

Article
John Ruggie urges Swiss Govt. to engage actively in shaping of initiative for responsible business conduct

Date:

23 Oct 2017

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Govt. dismisses initiative demanding mandatory human rights due diligence for business; says voluntary measures are sufficient

Date:

27 Sep 2017

Content Type:

Article
Swiss Federal Council publishes message on Responsible Business Initiative

Date:

15 Sep 2017

Content Type:

Article
Swiss firms could be held to account for actions abroad

Date:

10 Oct 2016

Content Type:

Article
Swiss quality must include the protection of human rights and the environment

Date:

10 Oct 2016

Content Type:

Article
Switzerland: Over 140,000 sign petition for govt. to require human rights & environmental due diligence by Swiss companies

Date:

18 Apr 2016

Content Type:

Article
Suisse : L'initiative pour un devoir de diligence des entreprises en matière de droits de l’homme et d'environnement obtient plus de 140 000 signatures

Date:

18 Apr 2016

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: français
Communiqué de presse : Une initiative d'ONG demande un devoir de diligence en matière de droits de l’homme pour toutes les entreprises suisses

Date:

21 Apr 2015

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: français
Business globale? Responsabilità globale!

Date:

21 Apr 2015

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: italiano
Press release: NGO initiative seeks mandatory human rights due diligence for all Swiss companies

Date:

21 Apr 2015

Content Type:

Article
Factsheet on initiative

Date:

21 Apr 2015

Content Type:

Article
Pressemitteilung: Initiative will verbindliche Menschenrechts-Due-Diligence für alle Schweizer Unternehmen

Date:

21 Apr 2015

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: Deutsch

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Factsheet on initiative

Timeline

Switzerland: 21 investors with CHF459 bn in assets call on parliament & Federal Council to adopt comprehensive legislation on corporate environmental & human rights due diligence

Commentary: Cobalt must be included in Swiss responsible business legislation

Switzerland: Responsible Business Initiative rejected at ballot box despite gaining 50.7% of popular vote

Swiss to decide on mandatory due diligence and corporate liability in what is expected to be a "knife-edge" vote on Sunday

CERDE & ACCA issue joint statement on recent position taken by Burkinabe Minister of Commerce on the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative

Swiss Responsible Business Initiative enjoys solid support ahead of public referendum on 29 November

Switzerland: Proposed due diligence regulation would promote effectiveness of Swiss development cooperation, say academics

Swiss Parliament adopts reporting-focused proposal

Switzerland to hold referendum on proposed human rights due diligence law

Swiss Responsible Business Initiative: Parliamentary committee opts for proposal without liability rules; public to vote in autumn 2020

Support for public Responsible Business Initiative continues to grow

Swiss parliamentary process on mandatory human rights due diligence proposal approaches final stage

Switzerland: Lower House reaffirms commitment to proposed human rights due diligence legislation

Switzerland: Legal Affairs Committee of Lower House reaffirms commitment to proposed human rights due diligence legislation

UN experts raise concerns over Swiss Government's position on 'Responsible Business Initiative'

Swiss upper house debate on proposed human rights due diligence legislation postponed

Unofficial translation: Statement of the initiative committee on the counter-proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative

Legal Affairs Committee of Swiss upper house supports civil liability of companies

Legal Affairs Committee of Swiss upper house affirms political will for an indirect counter-proposal to Responsible Business Initiative

Swiss National Council insists on Responsible Business counter-proposal

Swiss National Council votes in favour of pursuing an amended proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative

Switzerland weighs the merits of mandatory human rights due diligence

Switzerland: Investors call on parliamentarians to support legislation for mandatory human rights due diligence

Switzerland: Responsible business initiative heads closer to public vote as Council of States rejects counter-proposal

Commentary: Another step towards the adoption of a mandatory HRDD bill in Switzerland

How does the parliamentary counter-proposal differ from the popular initiative (RBI)?

Switzerland: Natl. Council adopts corporate human rights due diligence bill; NGO calls it a compromise but welcomes step forward

Responsible Business debate could cause ripple effects globally

John Ruggie's statement emphasizes importance of reaching workable compromise on Swiss Responsible Business Initiative

Full text of Swiss Parliament's counter-proposal to the responsible business initiative available in English

Switzerland: Legal Affairs Committee proposes indirect counter-proposal to responsible business initiative

John Ruggie weighs in on Swiss debate on mandatory human rights due diligence

Business & human rights - what Swiss companies need to know

Commentary: Paradise Papers fuel Swiss responsible business initiative

Swiss Parliament decides to issue counter-proposal to referendum initiative on responsible business conduct

John Ruggie urges Swiss Govt. to engage actively in shaping of initiative for responsible business conduct

Switzerland: Govt. dismisses initiative demanding mandatory human rights due diligence for business; says voluntary measures are sufficient

Swiss Federal Council publishes message on Responsible Business Initiative

Swiss firms could be held to account for actions abroad

Swiss quality must include the protection of human rights and the environment

Switzerland: Over 140,000 sign petition for govt. to require human rights & environmental due diligence by Swiss companies

Suisse : L'initiative pour un devoir de diligence des entreprises en matière de droits de l’homme et d'environnement obtient plus de 140 000 signatures

Communiqué de presse : Une initiative d'ONG demande un devoir de diligence en matière de droits de l’homme pour toutes les entreprises suisses

Business globale? Responsabilità globale!

Press release: NGO initiative seeks mandatory human rights due diligence for all Swiss companies

Factsheet on initiative

Pressemitteilung: Initiative will verbindliche Menschenrechts-Due-Diligence für alle Schweizer Unternehmen