All around the world, businesses are responsible for human rights abuses and environmental harm, as underscored by the recent COVID-19 crisis. Businesses must not be allowed to close their eyes to the impact of their business decisions on other actors in the chain. Voluntary measures have proved to be vastly insufficient, as recognised by the
On 2 September, 26 companies, business associations, and initiatives released a joint statement calling for EU-wide, cross-sectoral mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. Several signatories have already supported calls for mandatory due diligence at a national level through previous statements and ongoing campaigns. This is the first pan-European, international as well as cross-sectoral
EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, made a landmark announcement last month in a webinar organized by European Parliament’s Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) Working Group. The group represents the key MEPs working on Business and Human Rights across political groups and parliamentary committees. Mr. Reynders declared that in 2021 he will propose a Mandatory Human
Speech by Commissioner Reynders on 29th April 2020 in the webinar on due diligence hosted by the RBC Working Group. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be here with you today. Your participation, and the overwhelming interest for the work of the Commission throughout the past year, show that there is a real
RBC Webinar 29 April 2020 Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders announced yesterday that the Commission will introduce a legislative initiative next year on mandatory due diligence for companies. Commission is currently preparing a public consultation on sustainable corporate governance and due diligence, which will inform the Commission’s legislative proposal. Commissioner Reynders made his announcement in
A group of 101 international investors representing over US$4.2 trillion in assets under management have joined forces to call on governments to put in place regulatory measures requiring companies to conduct ongoing risk management regarding risks to people associated with their business activities. Known as “human rights due diligence,” this process involves a company assessing
Due to precautionary public health measures taken by the European Parliament related to coronavirus / COVID-19 outbreak, all events/seminars/external visits in the European Parliament are cancelled for the next three weeks. Please read more here about the decision taken by the Parliament. As a results, the long awaited event with Commissioner Reynders on the Commission’s
The Study of due diligence requirement through the supply chains focuses on due diligence requirements to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse corporate impacts (abuses of human rights, including the rights of the child and fundamental freedoms, serious bodily injury or health risks, environmental damage, including with respect to climate). It examines existing market
Published by Alliance for Corporate Transparency, initiative led by Frank Bold The Alliance for Corporate Transparency, a collaborative initiative launched by Frank Bold, analysed the information that companies disclosed on their environmental and societal risks and impacts following the requirements introduced by the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive. The research arrives at the same time that
RBC Working Group hosts a discussion event with Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders on the Study on due diligence requirement through the supply chain, on Wednesday 4th March 2020 at 13 – 14.30 in the European Parliament. In the event, Commissioner Reynders will present the study, which will be followed by interventions by MEPs as