Lawmakers push for a framework for mandatory value chain due diligence.
On 2 April 2021, a legislative proposal entitled “Proposition de loi instaurant un devoir de vigilance et un devoir de responsabilité à charge des entreprises tout au long de leurs chaînes de valeur” or “Wetsvoorstel houdende de instelling van een zorg- en verantwoordingsplicht voor de ondernemingen, over hun hele waardeketen heen” was introduced by members of various political parties before the Belgian Chamber of Representatives (the Belgian Vigilance Proposal). The Chamber of Representatives voted in favour of considering this legislative proposal on 22 April 2021, a few weeks ahead of the 10th anniversary of the unanimous endorsement by the United Nations Human Rights Council of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
As mineral exploration companies begin to conduct their operations, it can be very easy to limit community engagement to existing local leaders. But who is this missing? Which community groups are under-represented? What could the particular impacts of mineral exploration be on these groups? How could companies identify and engage them? What should you do when things go wrong and company-community conflict arises?
Mineral activities can often be the largest business in the most remote locations, encountering some of the most marginalized individuals. They have great potential not just to make positive contributions to communities, but also to have negative impacts. The most severe and long-lasting impacts of mining activities are most likely to affect under-represented stakeholders. Under-represented stakeholders by definition do not have the same access or capacity to influence decisions that affect their lives as do others in their community.
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May. 3, 2021 8:45 PM
The Israeli hackers-for-hire firm NSO Group promised it would publish a transparency report starting this June. The announcement from last week comes after a coalition of human rights groups published an open letter to the company and its investors calling out NSO for failing to comply with human rights disclosure practices.
The letter, written by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Access Now and the Committee to Protect Journalists, among others, was sent to the spy firm’s owner Novalpina Capital and noted “concerns with NSO Group’s involvement in documented spyware abuses and its failure to respect the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”
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METRO reveals challenges in human rights due diligence: ‘Our value chain is not as straightforward as other sectors’ By Flora Southey One of the key challenges in achieving ‘equitable working conditions’ throughout the international wholesaler’s procurement channels lies in the complexity of METRO’s supply chain, explains Public Policy Manager Illa Brockmeyer.
International wholesaler METRO means big business. While headquartered in Germany, METRO also operates in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Russia, and Asia. Last fiscal year, the company turned over around €25bn.
As an international distribution company, human rights due diligence is already a ‘core element’ of its sustainability strategy, explained Illa Brockmeyer, Public Policy Manager at METRO AG.
Published April 17, 2021, 11:24 AM
Absolute public participation in the grant of new mining concessions and in the review and renegotiation of existing agreements must be imposed by the government to assure the promotion of human rights, standard of living, and environmental protection in affected communities.
Commission on Human Rights (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was stressed by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday, April 17, as it expressed optimism that the government will make sure that all relevant mining and environmental laws are “observed and faithfully implemented” now that President Duterte has lifted the 2012 moratorium on new mining agreements.
In Executive Order No. 130 (EO 130) issued last April 14, the President lifted the moratorium on new mineral agreements in a bid to generate jobs and spur countryside development which have been ravaged by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.