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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.

Land Tenure Risk: Why It Matters for Companies, Investors, and Communities
Blog October 08, 2013
Land Tenure Risk: Why It Matters for Companies, Investors, and Communities
Two important new reports focus on land tenure conflicts between companies and communities. In September, the Rights and Resources Initiative released a report entitled, “Global Capital, Local Concessions: A Data-Driven Examination of Land Tenure Risk and Industrial Concessions in Emerging Market Economies.” The report, drafted by the Munden Project, attempts to quantify the percentage of company land concessions that overlap community (particularly indigenous) claims…
Respecting the Human Right to Water
Blog September 30, 2011
Respecting the Human Right to Water
More than a Resource: Water, Business, and Human Rights, a recent report by the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) calls on companies to take action to respect the human right to water. The report references the emerging consensus among international institutions that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, and highlights the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights…
Greenpeace Critiques Apparel Sector Companies for Failing to Manage Water Contamination by Suppliers
Blog August 15, 2011
Greenpeace Critiques Apparel Sector Companies for Failing to Manage Water Contamination by Suppliers
Some of the worlds most well-known apparel companies have come under criticism from Greenpeace for not sufficiently monitoring and limiting industrial wastewater discharges by suppliers. In a new report called Dirty Laundry, Greenpeace highlights the wastewater discharges from two major manufacturers in China that supply products to a range of major brands including Adidas, Bauer Hockey, Calvin Klein, Converse, Lacoste, Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen and Puma…
CSR and the Law: Five Big Developments in 2010
Blog December 30, 2010
CSR and the Law: Five Big Developments in 2010
Looking back at 2010, there have been a number of significant legal developments in the field of corporate social responsibility. New federal and state statutes have imposed due diligence requirements on companies with the specific intent of addressing human rights concerns, ranging from forced labor to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Courts continue to grapple with the potential scope of corporate liability under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS)…
Corporate Exposure to Water-Related Risks and Engagement with Key Stakeholders
Blog November 20, 2010
Corporate Exposure to Water-Related Risks and Engagement with Key Stakeholders
CDP Water Disclosure, a program of the Carbon Disclosure Project, released its first water disclosure report (.pdf) last week.  The report summarizes the results of a survey of 302 companies from 34 countries regarding their water use and their management of water-related risks.  The findings highlight the degree to which water-related challenges are capturing the attention of a wide range of corporate stakeholder…
Water Access Recognized as a Fundamental Human Right
Blog July 29, 2010
Water Access Recognized as a Fundamental Human Right
On July 28, the United Nations General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution recognizing access to clean water as a fundamental human right(.pdf). This U.N. resolution will likely feature in corporate dialogues with stakeholders regarding water use, water access, water production, and the impact of corporate activities on local watersheds. Finding solutions that provide for the current and future needs of all water users is imperative.The stakes for both companies and communities are……

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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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