Human Rights Defenders: The Current State of Affairs and Tools for Investor Action
We are organizing an investor briefing titled Human Rights Defenders: The Current State of Affairs and Tools for Investor Action in collaboration with the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and the International Service for Human Rights on May 16 from 10-11:00 ET/15-16:00 UK/16-17:00 CET.
This investor briefing will share the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s latest research on the scale of attacks on human rights defenders (HRDs) raising concerns about corporate harm globally. Launching on 7 May, “People power under pressure: Human rights defenders & business in 2023” explores the ongoing pattern of attacks on HRDs protecting our rights and planet globally, with more than 5,300 attacks recorded since January 2015, and shares information about the most high-risk sectors, regions, and countries.
The briefing will further explore a new tool that investors can use in their risk assessments and engagement with portfolio companies to strengthen respect for the rights of HRDs. The Indicators on how to track businesses' respect of the rights of human rights defenders, developed by the International Service for Human Rights, provide baseline guidance on businesses’ responsibility to respect the rights of HRDs, including zero tolerance for intimidation, attacks and threats; human rights due diligence; transparency and accountability; access to remedy/grievance mechanisms; and support for civic freedoms.
The conversation will conclude with an investor perspective about implications for their work and opportunities for strengthened practice.
Speakers:
Christen Dobson, Co-Head, Civic Freedoms & Human Rights Defenders Programme, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Lazaro Tiant, Sustainable Investment Research, Schroders
Ulises Quero, Programme Manager (Business, Land & Environment), International Service for Human Rights
Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, Witness Radio, Uganda
Moderator: Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Associate Director, Investor Alliance for Human Rights
RESOURCES:
ISHR, Indicators on how to track businesses' respect of the rights of human rights defenders
BHRRC, People Power Under Pressure: Human Rights Defenders and Business in 2023