« Coupures d'eau chez deux personnes handicapées : Veolia condamné à verser 22 000 euros », 3 mai 2017
Le groupe Veolia a été condamné au mois d'avril dans deux décisions de justice, l'une par le tribunal de Toulon, l'autre par le tribunal de Nanterre, pour coupure d'eau et réduction de débit illégales à l’encontre de deux personnes handicapées et invalides… Veolia va devoir verser 22 000 euros aux victimes et aux deux associations.
Veolia "prend acte de la décision rendue par le TGI de Nanterre et tient à présenter ses excuses à la victime pour le préjudice qu’il a subi" L'entreprise rappelle qu'elle gère "7,4 millions d’abonnés en France ce qui rend malheureusement possible une erreur aussi regrettable soit-elle". Et la société précise avoir donné "des consignes internes claires" auprès de ses équipes opérationnelles partout en France…
Depuis plusieurs années, la Fondation France Libertés et la Coordination Eau Ile-de-France dénoncent l'attitude de Véolia…
Au mois de mars dernier, [elles] ont été poursuivies pour diffamation par Veolia, estimant que les deux associations portent "des atteintes graves à son honneur ou à sa probité" en communiquant sur les condamnations prononcées à son encontre. Un procès doit avoir lieu en octobre 2018.
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France : 2 tribunaux condamnent Veolia pour coupure d’eau et réduction de débit illégales à l’encontre de personnes handicapées et invalides
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La norme ISO 20400 encourage les entreprises à acheter éthique ; bénéfique pour l’entreprise et l’environnement
« ISO 20400 : les entreprises qui achètent responsable économisent sur le long terme », 27 avril 2017
Après 3 ans et demi de négociations, la norme volontaire Achats responsables ISO 20400 est adoptée en avril 2017 par la France et 22 autres pays. Elle indique aux petites et grandes entreprises des lignes directrices afin d'inclure une responsabilité sociétale et environnementale dans leur processus d'achats. Les sociétés certifiées doivent s'assurer que leurs fournisseurs respectent les principes d'achat responsable : le respect des droits de l'Homme, une mise en place de moyens de production durables et transparents ainsi qu'une application de la redevabilité (le fournisseur doit pouvoir prouver qu'il respecte la règlementation française)...
La norme ISO 20400 insiste sur le fait qu'acheter local est aussi bénéfique à l'entreprise qu'à l'environnement et que se fournir avec du matériel de mauvaise qualité peut être à l'origine de graves catastrophes comme celle du Rana Plaza en 2013...
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Hungary: Rapidly shrinking civic freedoms - what business can do
April 2017 has seen the biggest anti-government protest in Budapest, Hungary, since Mr Orban came to power seven years ago. Thousands of people have taken part in a protest to demand the abolition of laws which could force the closure of one of the country's most prestigious universities, the Central European University (CEU). New rules introduced by the government mean the CEU would be unable to award diplomas because it is registered in the United States of America. The Hungarian Government has also been moving to limit the influence of nongovernmental organizations that promote democracy and the rule of law, especially those receiving foreign funding. The free flow of capital is an issue for international companies as well as for civil society organizations operating in the country:
The Government is questioning the legitimate role of civic organizations to formulate opinion on government policies because no one elected them. Such definition of stakeholder status would render all chambers of commerce and business and professional associations illegitimate;
The Government is questioning the legitimate role of civic organizations which receive some of their funding from abroad, using the term foreign agent to label them. The suggestion that the legitimacy of organizations operating partially or fully using funding coming from a donor or parent company in another nation questions the security of all foreign direct investments in the country;
Representatives of the governing party repeatedly identified foreign corporations as having opposing interests with Hungarians and threatened that civic groups that “serve the interests of foreign powers and the international big business as opposed to Hungarians, have nothing to do here”.
By raising these issues with the Hungarian government and by showing their support for the CEU and for the civil society organizations in the country, businesses can respond to the concerns of their consumers and employees, and be a powerful voice in reversing the dangerous trend.
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Goldman Environmental Prize 2017 winners announced
Congratulations to the 2017 winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize including mark! Lopez (USA), Prafulla Samantara (India), Rodrigue Magaruka Katemba (Dem. Rep. Congo), Rodrigo Tot (Guatemala); Uros Marcel (Slovenia); Wendy Bowman (Australia)
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Interview with Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Tiffany & Co.: “In the absence of meaningful regulations and rule of law, business must increasingly take a leadership role around global challenges”
BHRRC: What does a strong civil society contribute to a healthy business environment and why are civic freedoms important for a company like yours? What can your company and similarly minded companies be doing to educate key constituencies - be it governments, other companies or investors - about the significance of civil society and the importance of it being able to operate in an ‘enabling environment’?
Anisa: At Tiffany & Co., we know that a strong civil society contributes a great deal in today’s business environment. Business is not simply about a single stakeholder and the bottom line—civil society rounds out perspectives and helps to guide what responsible businesses do.
I’m proud that we welcome the opinions and concerns of many different groups—including those that challenge us. We engage with a broad range of groups whose diverse viewpoints are critical to helping us advance best practices related to supply chain management and responsible mining. Each contributes in a unique way: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) provide meaningful feedback and best practices, and a push to companies that need one; industry groups help ensure we collectively influence the industry beyond just our company; and engagements with mining companies help us identify and address environmental and social issues in our sector.
We believe this benefits our Company’s operations and positively influences the jewelry industry and our partners along our supply chain. When it comes to certification, we place significant value on third-party systems. NGOs, communities and others deserve an equal seat at the table alongside industry. We’ve been advocating for this because we believe it will lead to stronger, more credible standards.
Rafael Marques de Morais
BHRRC: As a leader in the luxury industry, you recognize the opportunity you have to influence culture and set the standards for excellence in your entire industry. Tiffany & Co. supported Rafael Marques, a renowned Angolan journalist who faced years in jail for exposing human rights abuses in the Angolan diamond mining industry, even though the company does not source from Angola. Many other companies have a policy of not commenting on situations where there is no clear connection to their operations. Why did Tiffany & Co. feel it was important to defend Rafael Marques?
Anisa: Yes, that’s correct – while we don’t source from Angola, Tiffany and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation strive to address the most pressing issues facing the diamond supply chain, and Rafael Marques was exposing conditions that concerned us. As a leader in the luxury industry, we felt that we had a responsibility to speak out about the importance of a global diamond supply chain free from human rights abuses.
Transparency into global supply chains, brought to light by journalists and other human rights defenders, is critical to reducing human rights abuses.
Today, a company’s stakeholders, including investors, recognize that what happens at the first step of the supply chain can affect your brand and your bottom line. This is true for most commodities, whether diamonds or palm oil or seafood. Transparency into global supply chains, brought to light by journalists and other human rights defenders (HRDs), is critical to reducing human rights abuses.
BHRRC: We recently launched the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB). In it, the 41 largest extractives companies in the world were assessed against the CHRB’s extractives criteria and while there were some bright exceptions, their overall score was a disappointing 29%. Tiffany does not mine diamonds itself, but you have direct supply agreements with particular mines or suppliers. How do you ensure your suppliers uphold the same high standards that you have?
Anisa: We continue to support the development of strong, rigorous standards for responsible mining at the large scale and artisanal level. And beyond the mining sector, frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) as well as the Sustainable Development Goals help to provide additional tools and guidance.
Global frameworks and voluntary standards are necessary to lift the entire industry up. There is also a need for constant education within companies so everyone that has a touch point along the supply chain understands human rights and how their role can influence responsible practices. This really begins with the CEO communicating the importance of human rights to employees and suppliers.
BHRRC: Related to that, consumer-facing industries, including yours, seem to be more forward thinking when it comes to advocating for human rights and taking concrete steps to safeguard them. We saw in the CHRB that the only companies with policies on HRDs were in the apparel industry and yours is one of the few companies that chose to speak up for an HRD. How can non-consumer-facing industries be motivated to act?
Anisa: Beyond the moral imperative to do what is right, we believe there is increasing demand for companies to address human rights in their operations in order to have a social license to operate, whether consumer facing or not. All companies have customers, and customers care – whether they are individual consumers or companies.
Investors increasingly also place a priority on Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. In fact, a report by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group showed that 75% of investment executives believe ESG performance is materially important to investment decisions.
Responsible businesses benefit in the long term from a strong civil society, whether consumer-facing or not.
Mining in Eastern Congo
BHRRC: You are an integral part of the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, which is targeted at industrial-scale mines. It is encouraging that IRMA now mentions civil society and HRDs as sources of expert advice and credible independent experts. What was the process of integrating this language into IRMA like and how do you think IRMA, once fully in effect, will impact the situation of HRDs focusing on the mining sector, which are the most negatively impacted of all HRDs working for corporate accountability, according to our database of attacks?
Anisa: IRMA was built on a multi-stakeholder process, including sectors who have long been champions and advocates of human rights—specifically NGOs and communities affected by mining. Because these sectors have played such an integral role in setting the IRMA Standard, the protection of human rights has been front and center in its creation.
When it is implemented, IRMA will offer a platform for HRDs to be heard—as stakeholders during the third-party audit process and also through the grievance mechanism once a mine has achieved certification.
Human Rights Watch recently joined IRMA Steering Committee as a representative of the NGO sector, and First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining has also joined to represent affected communities. Both organizations have a history of defending and advocating for the rights of the most vulnerable communities. By including such vocal and experienced groups at IRMA’s table—and ensuring they have an equal seat at that table—we believe all interested parties potentially impacted by mining are represented, and ultimately safeguarded.
BHRRC: Tiffany declines to buy stones from countries with widely reported human rights abuses, such as Angola, the DRC, and Zimbabwe, even though they are part of the Kimberley Process. In a recent interview you said that you don’t believe the answer is to simply exclude countries outright. How do you make the decision to exclude a country? What should such countries do to become sourcing countries for you?
Anisa: This is certainly not a decision we take lightly. As we all know, in the absence of meaningful regulations and rule of law, business must increasingly take a leadership role around global challenges. It is done on a case by case basis. We value transparency, anti-corruption efforts and free press. However, in some cases, the absence of strong rule of law creates an environment that we do not believe we can responsibly source from.
BHRRC: California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (SB657): Does it help to level the playing field and bring actors on the same page? Arguably, the more transparent supply chains are, the more HRDs will demand abuses that are revealed are prevented and remedied. How to make sure more transparency doesn’t result in further crackdown on HRDs?
Anisa: Yes, we do believe that legislation such as the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act and others do help to level the playing field. However, some companies embrace the intent more than others.
If businesses, NGOs and local communities continue to advocate on behalf of HRDs, coupled with regulation, it is my hope that we will create a culture where this sort of transparency is the rule and not the exception.
Tiffany and other leading businesses are already working to achieve transparency and traceability in complex, global supply chains. This is a challenge that cuts across sectors.
If businesses, NGOs and local communities continue to advocate on behalf of HRDs, coupled with regulation, it is my hope that we will create a culture where this sort of transparency is the rule and not the exception.
We believe that the existence of regulation that addresses sourcing practices provides an important framework for industry, laying the foundation for the protection of human rights and responsible sourcing efforts.
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Webinar series: 2017 human rights in impact assessment
Human rights impact assessment case studies
June 13th, 2017 | 7am PDT, 10am EDT, 4pm CET
60 minute webinar hosted by BSR and DIHR discussing the challenges and opportunities of integrating human rights into environmental, social and health impact assessments (ESHIAs). Impact assessors will share their key learnings and perspectives drawn from concrete practice examples, followed by time for Q&A for participants.
Presenters: LKL Consulting case study on an integrated assessment in the mining industry; DIHR case study on a human rights scoping study in Myanmar; Community Insights Group experience on human rights scoping in ESHIA scoping and baseline studies.
Access: www.bsr.org
Integrating human rights into environmental and social impact assessment
September 12th, 2017 | 7am PDT, 10am EDT, 4pm CET
60 minute webinar hosted by Oxfam America and the Danish Institute for Human Rights on the topic of capacity building in HRIA processes. Impact assessment practitioners from both company-led and community-based approaches will share their insights on engagement of community, company and other key stakeholders in human rights impact assessment, followed by Q&A for participants.
Presenters: Oxfam America case study on rights-holder engagement in HRIA; DIHR case study on internal company engagement and capacity for HRIA; company case study on stakeholder engagement in HRIA.
Access: www.oxfamamerica.org/hria
Capacity building and stakeholder engagement in HRIA
July 28th, 2017 | 7am PDT, 10am EDT, 4pm CET
60 minute webinar hosted by twentyfifty and NomoGaia providing an insight into approaches and lessons learned from HRIA in three business sectors. The presentations by impact assessors highlighting methodologies, challenges encountered and ways they have been overcome will be followed by an interactive Q&A session.
Presenters: twentyfifty case study on the extractives sector; NomoGaia case study on the agricultural sector; BSR case study on the consumer goods sector.
Registration: http://bit.ly/HRIAcases
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Guidelines to evaluate workers' human rights & labour standards
Global union initiative will elevate the profile of social issues in the investment chain. Investors will be able to properly evaluate company adherence to robust labour standards and responsible employer relations as a result of a new global trade union initiative. The Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC) Guidelines for the Evaluation of Workers’ Human Rights and Labour Standards are a comprehensive set of key performance indicators (KPIs) for investors to evaluate companies’ social performance. The guidelines were produced by trade unions from around the globe in response to concerns that asset owners and other investment chain actors are not equipped with tools to adequately scrutinize social issues such as labour relations in their environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis.
“When companies like XPO Logistics or Sports Direct mistreat their workforce, they create risks for investors,” says Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. “Yet to date the ‘S’ in ESG has been the weak link in investment analysis, and investors have lacked a shared framework to assess companies’ approaches.” The Guidelines are inspired by key international norms, standards and frameworks including the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the ILO Fundamental Conventions. The indicators are grouped in ten themes, which include workforce composition, social dialogue, supply chain, grievance mechanisms, workplace diversity, and pension fund contributions for employees...
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España: Iberdrola y otras 25 empresas presentaron ante el Foro Económico Mundial pedido al G20 para abordar los riesgos climáticos causados por las empresas
“Iberdrola, Acciona y otras 25 compañías reclaman al G20 que exija análisis de riesgos climáticos a las empresas” -24 de abril de 2017
…En una carta presentada en un reciente encuentro en el Foro Económico Mundial, los “jefes” animan a todas las compañías a revelar los impactos del cambio climático en sus actividades empresariales. “Los inversores y las instituciones financieras tendrán un conjunto común de datos e información para permitir el diálogo sobre las consecuencias del cambio climático para una empresa específica y para apoyar las decisiones de inversión. La información hará hincapié en los riesgos que plantean los impactos físicos del cambio climático, las implicaciones de las políticas pertinentes y los riesgos de responsabilidad civil que pueden derivarse de la inacción, lo que proporciona una mayor visibilidad sobre cómo las empresas están gestionando estos riesgos…”, subrayan…Los CEO insisten en que una mejor divulgación de los riesgos financieros relacionados con el clima contribuirá en gran medida a permitir un diálogo constructivo y bien informado entre los inversores y las empresas sobre los riesgos financieros y las oportunidades asociadas a sus actividades. Además de las empresas españolas Iberdrola y Acciona, firman el documento, representantes de otras 25 compañías como Unilever, Suez, Philips, Enel, ING o Solvay.
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“Exposición: Cartografías de los cuerpos – territorios”
Las cartografías de los cuerpos territorio son una herramienta estético – política y ambiental de conocimiento práctico para la vida personal y colectiva que Censat Agua Viva, con el apoyo de Tierra de Hombres, viene realizando desde el 2015 en Comunidades de niñas y niños campesinos e indígenas de La Guajira, Cauca y Antioquia, afectados por la explotación minera en sus territorios.
Para esta exposición se aúnan también las cartografías corporales de los niños, niñas, adolescentes y jóvenes (NNAJ) de la comunidad de El Hatillo en el departamento del Cesar, cuya situación de afectación la ubica como un caso emblemático dentro de las problemáticas más graves que la actividad minera ha ocasionado en el país… La exposición se llevará a cabo en varias ciudades del país:
Bogotá: Del 3 al 5 de mayo muestra- taller. Exposición hasta el 31 de mayo. En el Centro de Memoria, Paz y Reconciliación (Carrera 19b 24-86).
Manizales: Muestra- taller, del 8 al 12 de mayo. En el Palacio de Bellas Artes y en el Teatro El Escondite.
Pueblorrico, Antioquia. Muestra- taller, del 23 al 26 de mayo. En el Institución Educativa el Salvador.
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Colombia: Alianza por la Minería Responsable publica una Guía Práctica para la Formalización de la pequeña minería en el país
“¡Llega la guía para formalización de la pequeña minería!” – 28 de abril de 2017
Esta guía, compuesta por cinco cartillas, describe el paso a paso que los pequeños mineros de Colombia deben seguir para cumplir los requisitos establecidos por el Estado para la formalización de su actividad, y brinda herramientas que ayudan en su implementación. Con ejemplos, herramientas y recomendaciones, la guía desarrolla la ruta hacia la formalización, que consiste en “Regularizarse; Capacitarse y formarse; Ser productivo y competitivo; Generar bienestar; Alcanzar la Minería Formal, Sostenerse y crecer”. Cuando los mineros cumplen con los requisitos exigidos para la formalización minera, su actividad económica ya no es solo formal, sino también rentable, segura, ambientalmente sostenible y contribuye al desarrollo de las comunidades y regiones…
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México: Nuevo proyecto fomenta diálogo intersectorial para promover los derechos de trabajadoras en maquilas
“ONGs crean proyecto para defender derechos de trabajadoras en maquilas”, 2 de Mayo de 2017
…Fondo Semillas, Hispanics In Philanthropy (HIP) y el Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (ProDESC), organizaciones defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres, anunciaron un proyecto para defender a las trabajadoras de maquilas en la industria de la moda. El proyecto propone generar espacios de diálogo entre las organizaciones locales, las marcas internacionales, las maquilas locales y las cámaras de comercio de esta industria…En México, miles de mujeres que trabajan en esta industria enfrentan despidos injustificados, horas extras sin pago, violencia y hostigamiento sexual, brecha salarial por género, discriminación, centros de trabajo inseguros y/o antihigiénicos. A esto se suma la subcontratación, la limitada libertad de asociación y la creciente violencia de género en varias entidades del país, que amenazan sus posibilidades de organización, señalaron las asociaciones en un comunicado…
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Guatemala: Cámara Empresarial pide a Corte Constitucional resolver sobre proyectos hidroeléctricos Oxec I y II; suspendidas por falta de consulta
“Comité Coordinador de Asociaciones Comerciales, Industriales y Financieraspide a Corre Constitucional que resuelva recursos que mantienen suspendida la hidroeléctrica Oxec”, 2 de Mayo de 2017
…Tras 69 días de suspensión de operaciones de las hidroeléctricas Oxec I y II, la cúpula empresarial solicitó al pleno de magistrados de la Corte de Constitucionalidad (CC) conocer el caso “con celeridad” y no postergar el fallo definitivo. “La CC no debe postergar el fallo definitivo”, dijo el presidente del Comité Coordinador de Asociaciones Comerciales, Industriales y Financieras (Cacif), Antonio Malouf, quien afirmó que la “ausencia de reglamentación de consultas a pueblos indígenas ha traído serias consecuencias como atropello a derechos como al trabajo e industria”…En enero pasado, un fallo de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (CSJ), causó sorpresa pues ordenó suspender temporalmente la operación de los dos proyectos hidroeléctricos Oxec I y Oxec II, sustentando la resolución en que no realizaron las consultas populares requeridas por el Convenio 169...
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Qatar: Construction companies urged to ensure safety, health of migrant workers
"Qatar firms that boost worker wellness are actually helping themselves", 29 Apr 2017
Employers in Qatar must understand that ensuring their workers’ safety and health is a win-win situation for everyone, an international organization has said. This not only leads to a satisfied workforce, but also a productive one – and provides a reputation boost for the companies involved, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) added...IOSH released a five-year strategy to boost worker wellness...According to Ala’a Sukhni, the vice-chair of IOSH’s Qatar branch, the biggest challenges health and safety professionals face in the country are falls from a height, and illnesses caused by the heat and dust... [T]here are a variety of products and solutions that can help reduce this risk and...IOSH encourages Qatar-based companies to invest in them...They include: Setting up an air-conditioned room where workers can spend their breaks and eat their meals; Making sure employees avoid working in direct sun wherever possible...[The] Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has also recently released new guidelines designed to make workplaces safer. The guide includes advice on things like proper fencing and signs, working hours, traffic management, the transportation of construction material, scaffolding, lights and noise levels.
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Renewable energy investors face financial risks if they do not address human rights issues, finds new report
"Renewable energy faces growing human rights concerns," 3 May, 2017
[A new] study, by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre…documents how renewables firms, particularly in developing countries, are failing to meet international standards for engaging with the local communities where mainly wind and hydropower projects are being implemented. The report highlights cases of illegal land-grabbing, intimidation and violence, while the large majority of those featured in the research admitted to failing to meet basic rules of engagement around free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)...The report suggested that renewables projects are running into similar problems faced by the extractive industry because both involve the large scale use of land...These include operational delays, legal costs and reputational risks, which are likely to mean lower financial returns for investors, as well as increased operational and capital expenditure, the report noted...
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India: Villagers fear potential gold exploration by Vedanta Resources may result in displacement & environmental destruction; company assures meaningful engagement with community
The village of Sonakhan in the eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh fear that potential gold exploration by Vednata Resources may result in displacement, loss of livelihoods and environmental destructions. Vedanta said at the time that the mining block required extensive exploration. Residents of Sonakhan said they first heard of the auction in the national newspapers. There were no visits by government officials to brief them, nor village council meetings to discuss the impact of the mine. Villagers have held rallies and made representations to state officials. They plan to keep protesting until they get more details on the mine's environmental impact, and assurances they will not be displaced. Officials say their concern is misplaced and premature.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Vedanta Resources to respond, the company responded.
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Vedanta Resources' response
As on date we have not commenced any exploration for the Sonakhan project. If non –invasive exploration shows a promising result, any plans to create a mining operation will undergo community consultation and a community need assessment. Vedanta considers local communities as our partners in progress, to ensure mutual understanding of the benefits that mining brings to them in terms of development, job creation and rather than end we enrich their way of life. We would like to assure the community that we will engage with them to help protect the local culture and natural environment. All progress to a mining operation will be consistent with the principles of continuous & open dialogue with the local community and conduct it in the village council and ensure we follow expectations of free, prior and informed consent. We will only commence the activity when the communities have been engaged and satisfied with the process followed by Vedanta. Zero Harm, Zero Discharge & Zero Waste are the core values of Vedanta and we are fully committed to them. We believe that our contribution to the community, and the environment should be the benchmark to deliver productivity with least invasive and sustainable processes in a safe environment.
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France : Une ONG demande au futur gouvernement de mettre en œuvre les recommandations prévues dans le plan d’action entreprises et droits de l’homme en tenant compte de celles de la société civile
« Réaction publique de Sherpa au Plan national d’action pour la mise en œuvre des Principes directeurs des Nations Unies relatifs aux droits de l’Homme et aux entreprises », 4 mai 2017
Sherpa salue la parution…du Plan national d’action pour la mise en œuvre des Principes directeurs des Nations Unies relatifs aux droits de l’Homme et aux entreprises. Nous…restons attentifs aux attentes exprimées par la société civile qui n’ont pas été reprises dans ce plan…
[La] responsable du programme Globalisation et Droits Humains au sein de Sherpa, regrette le refus quasiment systématique des principaux membres du pôle économique, tels que certaines organisations patronales, de nouvelles contraintes réglementaires.
Le Plan national français comporte toutefois des dispositions encourageantes. Doté d’un mécanisme de suivi et d’évaluation assurée par la Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’Homme (CNCDH), il énonce de nombreuses mesures à mettre en œuvre comme la dotation de moyens de fonctionnement adéquats au Point de contact national de l’OCDE ou la facilitation à l’accès au marché français et européen aux biens et services produits dans des conditions respectant les droits de l’Homme…
[N]ous relevons avec satisfaction la mention à de nombreuses reprises de la notion de « devoir de vigilance »…
Sherpa invite donc le futur gouvernement à mettre en œuvre les recommandations prévues dans le plan en tenant compte des recommandations de la société civile.
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Les entreprises attendent les conseils de leurs juristes et avocats pour savoir comment respecter les droits de l'homme
« RSE : le rôle prépondérant des avocats et des juristes », 2 mai 2017
…[L]e barreau de Paris a organisé...une table ronde sur le thème « Entreprises et droits humains » à la Maison du barreau. Un sujet social en vogue avec la récente adoption du devoir de vigilance par les parlementaires français…
Il ressort des débats que désormais les entreprises sont dans l'attente de conseils de leurs juristes et de leurs avocats pour savoir comment respecter les droits de l'homme et se justifier. Elles souhaitent ainsi pouvoir prouver devant les juges, leurs partenaires commerciaux et leurs clients, qu'elles sont en conformité avec les droits humains. Elles souhaitent aussi dédommager leurs victimes le mieux possible. Il s'agit d'un enjeu réputationnel devenu essentiel dans le monde des affaires moderne…
…[Le] directeur juridique de Total confirme en expliquant que la logique de respect des droits humains est internalisée chez Total sous l'effet des moeurs et des générations…
Toutefois, cette « floraison de normes et d'engagements de conduite » n'est pas suffisante selon William Bourdon, cofondateur de l'ONG Sherpa…
Le problème majeur, souligne William Bourdon, est que « les victimes se trouvent à 80 % dans des Etats où il n'y a pas d'accès au juge », ce pourquoi il a créé Sherpa. Dans ce cas-là, les lois ne servent à rien…[fait aussi référence à Shell]
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USA: Supreme Court rules cities can sue banks for racial targeting of borrowers in housing crisis
"Supreme Court says cities can sue banks under anti-bias law", 1 May 2017
[A Supreme Court] ruling partly validated a novel approach by Miami and other cities to try to hold banks accountable...for the wave of foreclosures during the housing crisis a decade ago...Miami claimed that Wells Fargo and Bank of America, as well as Citigroup, pursued a decade-long pattern of targeting African-American and Hispanic borrowers for costlier and riskier loans than those offered to white customers...Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in his majority opinion a city can make claim for financial harm under the anti-discrimination housing law. But he said the second issue, tying the loans to the drop in tax revenues, is more difficult....[T]here must be "some direct relation between the injury asserted and the injurious conduct alleged.The appeals court should decide that issue...Wells Fargo...said... "We believe that under the stringent standards articulated by the Supreme Court, it will be very difficult...to show the required connection...and unsubstantiated allegations about our lending practices, which do not reflect how we operate in the communities we serve."...
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Survey: Do you struggle with large-scale infrastructure or extractive project & need intl. legal help?
Survey: Lawyers for Resource Justice
Are you struggling with a large-scale infrastructure or development project? Could an international lawyer help?
Lawyers for Resource Justice (LRJ) connects national and grassroots organizations with international lawyers who can provide legal support in negotiations, litigation, advocacy and training. LRJ specializes in cases where international actors are involved in large-scale infrastructure or development projects that violate the rights of communities.
The Global Legal Empowerment Network wants to improve and expand the Lawyers for Resource Justice Initiative to better serve network members’ needs. Could you help us by answering the following questions? It will take you 5 minutes...
Is your community’s land or environmental rights threatened by an international actor (i.e. company, extractive industries project, investor, development bank, etc.)?...
Could your advocacy efforts benefit from support or assistance with the following: negotiating with multinational firms? understanding complex international regulations or laws relating to international actors? collecting evidence against or investigating an international actor? litigating against some of those actors?
[to answer questions, click here for survey]
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