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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.

Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 17, 2022
Blog March 17, 2022
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 17, 2022
On March 15, 2022, the U.S., UK, and EU announced new sanctions against various individuals and entities in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. added certain human rights violators and senior Russian defense officials to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List…
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 15, 2022
Blog March 15, 2022
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 15, 2022
On March 11, 2022, President Biden signed a new Russia-related Executive Order, Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment with Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression…
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 11, 2022
Blog March 11, 2022
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 11, 2022
On March 8, 2022, the Biden administration announced its widely anticipated ban on the import of Russian oil and other energy-related commodities, a further escalation of the extensive sanctions and export controls implemented by the administration in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine…
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 7, 2022: U.S. Sanctions, Export Restrictions Escalate as Conflict in Ukraine Continues
Blog March 07, 2022
Russia and Belarus Sanctions Update – March 7, 2022: U.S. Sanctions, Export Restrictions Escalate as Conflict in Ukraine Continues
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the U.S. launched an additional wave of sanctions, with more expected to follow in the coming days. On March 3, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the following individuals, entities, and vehicles to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List…
Russia Sanctions Update – February 28, 2022: U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Central Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance, and Sovereign Wealth Funds; Switzerland and Monaco Impose Unprecedented Sanctions
Blog March 01, 2022
Russia Sanctions Update – February 28, 2022: U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Central Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance, and Sovereign Wealth Funds; Switzerland and Monaco Impose Unprecedented Sanctions
On February 28, 2022, the U.S. government announced new sanctions on the Central Bank of Russia, National Wealth Fund, Ministry of Finance, and Russian Direct Investment Fund, dramatically increasing the economic impact of existing sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine…
Review of Sanctions and Export Controls Imposed in Response to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Blog February 28, 2022
Review of Sanctions and Export Controls Imposed in Response to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
As we had reported in our earlier client alert and 2022 Year in Preview, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a new wave of sanctions and export controls on Russia, including sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy and individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The international response to Russia's invasion has been immediate and multi-lateral, with the U.S., EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Canada, among others, all issuing sanctions against Russia…
European Union Approves Global Magnitsky-Style Human Rights Sanctions Regime
Blog December 08, 2020
European Union Approves Global Magnitsky-Style Human Rights Sanctions Regime
In a landmark development, the European Union's Foreign Ministers on December 8 approved an “Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy” that establishes a new mechanism for targeting systematic violators of human rights from any country in the world. The human rights community has colloquially termed the Action Plan “Europe's Global Magnitsky Act”, an homage to the U.S. Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that was passed by a wide bipartisan margin in Congress and signed into……
As the United States Targets China's Human Rights Abuses, Companies Should Prepare for Stricter Due Diligence on Forced Labor
Blog July 20, 2020
As the United States Targets China's Human Rights Abuses, Companies Should Prepare for Stricter Due Diligence on Forced Labor
As the United States seeks to take more forceful action punishing China for its escalating human rights abuses against Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang autonomous region and the citizens of Hong Kong, international businesses whose supply chains intersect with China should be prepared for new legislation and regulatory enforcement that could result in penalties. Companies will need to take additional steps to ensure their due diligence processes account for potential human rights……
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
Blog August 17, 2018
Five on Friday – Five Recent Developments that We've Been Watching Closely
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…
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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.

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