abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

31 Aug 2022

Author:
Gavin Hinks, Board Agenda

UK: Investors bring renewed pressure for human rights due diligence

UK parliament

'Pressure renewed for human rights due diligence', 31 August 2022

"Pressure on the UK government to legislate for mandatory human rights due diligence increased this week with a renewed call from investors to take action.

Their demand comes alongside a YouGov survey revealing more than three quarters of the UK public is behind the idea of new laws compelling companies to ensure their supply chains do no avoidable damage to the environment or exploit people. The news comes as the European Union works on new laws for human rights due diligence on member states, though some, like France, have long since imposed such measures on its companies.

In a letter to the government 39 investors—among them CCLA, Close Brothers and Brunel, one of the largest local government pension schemes—call for “primary legislation” to mandate companies undertaking mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence across “their own operations and value chains”.

According to the letter: “Comprehensive human rights and environmental due diligence by companies enables investors to identify the greatest risks to people and the planet, linked to portfolios, and to fulfil their responsibility and to respect human rights.”

The investors list demands including an “obligation’ to “identify, prevent, mitigate and account for” human right and environmental risks in supply chains, as well as engagement with workers and community members. There are also calls for laws that would allow companies to be pursued through the courts with the possibility of compensation for victims of abuse..."

Part of the following timelines

Towards a UK corporate accountability law

Investors call for UK due diligence law

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.