Call for EU human rights and environmental due diligence legislation now supported by over 100 NGOs, trade unions and networks
"Over 100 civil society organisations demand human rights and environmental due diligence legislation"
Civil society organisations and networks from Europe and other regions stress their demands for binding rules on corporate respect for human rights and the environment as, today, the Finnish Presidency holds its "Conference on Business and Human Rights: towards a common agenda for action"...
The civil society statement makes it clear that current EU policy and legislation fails to adequately address the pressing challenges linked to human rights and environmental impacts of corporate global operations. The absence of cross-sectoral rules in the EU requiring companies to identify and address those impacts prevents companies from being held legally accountable when they neglect their responsibilities. Moreover, it makes it impossible for victims of corporate malpractice to seek remedy in courts.
The reliance on a voluntary approach to promote business respect for human rights and the environment has proven insufficient... The new European Commission should thus take swift action and present a legislative proposal that establishes a mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence framework for business and that provides access to remedy for victims of corporate abuse.