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Global Business & Human Rights

Our Global Business & Human Rights blog features nuanced discussion regarding the responsibilities of multinational companies, governments and multilateral institutions towards sustainability, with a particular focus on international human rights.

Toward a Credible and Universal Concept of Rights: How Racial Injustice in America Affects U.S.  Human Rights Practices Abroad
Blog June 26, 2020
The Murder of George Floyd on May 25th by a white Minneapolis police officer did not happen in a vacuum. It was not an aberration in an “otherwise functioning” justice system. Countless black men and women in America have suffered similar fates at the hands of a criminal justice apparatus that often sees black people as material threats before seeing them as human. Floyd's death is just the most recent symptom implicating a justice system in the United States that many experts and……
"A Diamond's Origins Are Forever"—Tiffany & Co. Announce Diamond Provenance Certification Program
Blog January 17, 2019
Tiffany & Company announced last week that it would become the world's first jewelry company to share with its consumers information about the country of origin of each diamond they sell. This is the first in a step of transparency measures that the company is undertaking. By 2020, Tiffany hopes to provide its customers with information about where each diamond was cut…
The 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark: Some Successes but Ongoing Challenges in Company Efforts to Advance Human Rights
Blog November 19, 2018
On November 12, The Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) released the results of its 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark.  The 2018 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assesses over 100 of the largest publicly traded multinational companies in the world on a set of key human rights indicators, including governance policies, remedies and grievance mechanisms, responding to serious allegations, due diligence, and transparency. Established in 2013…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog August 17, 2018
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: new guidance on compliance with North Korea-related sanctions laws; the release of the first annual report by the parties to the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on International Responsible Business Conduct; and a new blog series on the zero draft of the proposed Treaty on Business and Human Rights…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog June 29, 2018
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the dismissal of a climate change lawsuit brought by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland; the launch of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights; and a new benchmarking report from Know the Chain. On June 18, Know the Chain published its second benchmarking report of information and communications technology (“ICT”) companies…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog November 24, 2017
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: a look ahead at the upcoming UN Forum on Business and Human Rights; a decision in the Nevsun case by the British Columbia Court of Appeal; and the first decision by a NCP to hear a complaint focused on the impacts of climate change…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog November 03, 2017
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: the formal withdrawal of the United States from the EITI; the passage of the Canadian Magnitsky Act; and the launch of the Investor Alliance for Human Rights. On November 2, the Government of the United States formally withdrew from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog September 29, 2017
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes a number of new guidance documents and tools, including materials on: the elimination of recruitment fees; assurance efforts with regard to human rights reporting and performance; and the development of social compliance systems. In September, a draft version of the Responsible Recruitment Toolkit was released for public comment…
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog August 18, 2017
Its Friday and time for another overview of developments in the field of business and human rights that we've been monitoring. This week's post includes: an announcement by the Government of Australia that it will move forward with the development of a new Modern Slavery Act; new commitments by five companies to prohibit recruitment fees in their supply chains; and decision by the African Commission on Human and Peoples…
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Blog Editors

ABOUT

Foley Hoag’s Global Business and Human Rights practice provides counsel to multinational companies, governments, and multilateral institutions regarding social, political, and environmental challenges.

Our advice to clients encompasses legal and reputational risk management with respect to human rights, including labor rights and the rights of indigenous peoples; the design and implementation of stakeholder engagement programs; and professional auditing services, ranging from due diligence desk-top analyses to on-the-ground human rights impact assessments and the monitoring of social, human rights, and environmental initiatives.

In addition, we provide clients with crisis management and mediation services with respect to disputes with impacted communities and stakeholder groups, ranging from indigenous peoples to non-governmental organizations.