Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies have a responsibility to respect human rights and undertake human rights due diligence. Yet more than a decade after their adoption, benchmarks and analyses demonstrate low levels of commitment: only 34% of the largest companies in the world analysed in the latest Corporate Human Rights Benchmark have implemented clear responsibilities and training on human rights. Similarly, KnowTheChain benchmarks find companies score on average a mere 22% on their efforts on traceability and risk assessment. This is what mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws seek to address.
There is growing momentum worldwide among governments, particularly in Europe, to require companies to undertake human rights and environmental due diligence, from the French Duty of Vigilance Law in 2017 and the adoption of new laws in Germany and Norway in 2021, to the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which entered into force in July 2024.
Civil society across the world has been pushing for more robust requirements on companies for years and has been outspoken on the key elements these laws should include to be effective: a due diligence obligation for all businesses across their full global value chains; effective and safe stakeholder engagement; mandatory requirements that go beyond tick-box exercises and auditing, address irresponsible business models and purchasing practices, and are embedded in appropriate governance and accountability structures; and a strong civil liability regime.
This portal collects the latest news on mandatory human rights due diligence, national and regional developments, public company statements in support of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence, guidance for companies and governments, and examples of company implementation of human rights due diligence. It also hosts a blog series where experts from civil society, governments and business discuss what mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence could mean for advancing human rights in business.
Featured contents
EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive: Transposition Updates & Resources
On 24 May 2024, EU member states formally confirmed the CSDDD in Council – the absolute final sign-off of this landmark law. Follow the latest news as it moves on to transposition here.
EU: Major businesses urge Commission to ensure 'Omnibus' approach will not allow renegotiation of agreed texts
The letter from 11 companies & networks including Nestlé, Ferrero, MARS, Primark and Unilever argues the 'Omnibus' risks undermining the policy certainty and legal predictability that investment and competitiveness depend on.
Priorities for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive from workers in the Global South
We convened workers, trade unions and their civil society partners from a range of jurisdictions in the Global South to discuss the Directive. This briefing amplifies the insights and analysis shared by workers and their representatives.
100+ large companies, SMEs & networks reaffirm support for EU CSDDD at final stage of adoption
The statement signed by companies like Maersk, Aldi Süd Holding, Cisco, Nokia, H&M Group, Scania and Ritter Sport once again demonstrated the unprecedented support businesses and other stakeholders have had for the CSDDD.
Closing the gap: Evidence for effective human rights due diligence from five years measuring company efforts to address forced labour
This report provides new evidence of the urgent need for voluntary action to be strengthened with robust regulatory requirements for companies to identify human rights risks and prevent abuse.
Over 150 businesses call on the UK government to create ambitious due diligence law
In April 2024 businesses and investors released a statement in support of a Business Human Rights & Environment Act, after Baroness Young of Hornsey introduced a Private Members Bill to the House of Lords.
BHR-Law.org maps progress on business and human rights in law
BHR-Law.org, created by ICAR, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice, CORE Coalition, Above Ground, and Public Eye, follows legislative and judicial developments, including the latest laws and court cases, in the field of corporate accountability.
Hearing the human: Ensuring due diligence legislation effectively amplifies the voices of those affected by irresponsible business
We discussed safe and effective engagement with over 60 HRDs and developed recommendations to the European Commission, EU Parliament and Council of the EU.
Beyond social auditing: Key considerations for mandating effective due diligence
To realise its potential, regulation must drive action beyond the mechanical tick-box exercise which has characterised too many companies’ approaches to their duty of care to workers and communities.
Mandatory Due Diligence Blog Series
Experts from civil society, governments, academia and the corporate sector discuss mandatory due diligence and what it means for advancing human rights and the environment in business.
The case for human rights due diligence laws in the United Kingdom
Explore the latest facts, statistics and case studies on the need for a human rights and environmental due diligence law in the UK.
