Social distancing, isolating those exposed to the virus, and testing, tracing, tracking and treating the sick all continue to be legitimate priorities. Previously, the forced mobilisation of public sector employees to work on cotton farms in Uzbekistan was widely reported. Strengthening Accountability. However, protecting health can clash with the right to privacy and the right to political participation, and also raises the risk of other civil liberties – such as freedom of expression, security of person, and freedom from restrictions – being curtailed. These practices have become deeply embedded in how some global supply chains operate, a normal part of doing business, resulting in false price points for goods and services dependent on degrees of exploitation. Responsible tech companies will need to work with privacy experts and human rights lawyers to ensure that in trying to build a healthy society they do not end up constructing a surveillance state. The year ahead must see more effective strategies including targeted state-to-state engagement and collaborative partnerships involving all relevant actors. Prior to COVID-19, migrant workers were already amongst the most vulnerable in the world to various forms of exploitation. List of Human Rights Issues Adequate Housing Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context The International Transport Workers’ Federation has been working tirelessly to assist stranded seafarers. Companies that use or deploy such technologies are central actors in this context, as the effectiveness of these tools rests on the assumption that everyone has a smart phone and access to high-speed networks. Our 2021 Top 10 list reflects on the ongoing and unprecedented implications of COVID-19 … More recently, allegations of North Korean labour in Chinese factories producing personal protective equipment have raised concerns about linkages with procurement by governments around the world. Changes are long overdue, and scrutiny of corporate conduct will continue to grow in 2021, including calls to demonstrate how companies are hiring more candidates from racial minorities or ensuring that black employees remain in the company. Tools such as QR codes, electronic anklets, and bracelets, technologies like facial recognition, geo-fencing, and drones have been deployed, ostensibly to prevent spread, but may themselves lead to further risks to rights protections. Are programmes intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic failing to support black-owned businesses? COVID. Adding further complexity, tests for the virus are not always accurate. At the same time, there are opportunities for companies that embrace the need for such action. Pinterest. Over a million people have died, and although early reports suggest vaccines will be available by early-2021, it will take time before we learn about their long-term effectiveness. Companies may also be directly or indirectly associated with compulsory labour or other human rights abuses imposed by governments. The African Court as captured in its 2021 Continental Blueprint intends to extend dialogue The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, on Thursday, issued the 2021 Continental Human Rights Blueprint which seeks to emphasize the progress already made in the accomplishment of rights of people. The costs – both financial and human – will be far more significant if just transitions fail to take hold. Such steps could further undermine the global order that has been built up over past decades and that now needs to be strengthened and reformed. The estimated 450 million people working in supply chains are often in extremely precarious situations. Yet as lockdown and travel restrictions continued, crews were increasingly prevented from coming ashore for fear of them spreading the coronavirus. Certain human rights are derogable, but certain core rights are not. Black Lives Matter. Companies may decide to invest in intrusive surveillance technology to monitor how employees work from home – sensitive research and intelligence jobs will actually require this, and that too raises significant privacy concerns. The issue will increasingly be in the spotlight in 2021 in the lead up to the UN Climate Change Conference COP 26 in Glasgow and will continue to gain in urgency. Thousands of migrant workers faced the dilemma of giving up wages owed to them to return home, or to stay abroad with no work and no money - often in countries that do not have or offer access to social safety nets. While some brands and retailers committed to pay in full for completed orders or those already in production, others responded to the crisis by cancelling orders or paying suppliers substantially reduced prices. However, these arrangements face considerable strain today as can be seen in ongoing divisions within the World Trade Organisation and in negotiations over bilateral and regional agreements. App developers access and retain far more data than is strictly necessary. They are many serious human rights violations that Human Rights Watch simply lacks the capacity to address. In response, over 200 organisations spanning 36 countries issued a call to action pressuring brands and retailers to exit the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, based on evidence of widespread forced labour. The regulatory framework is inadequate. The absence of a particular country or issues often simply reflects staffing limitations and should not be taken as commentary on the significance of the problem. Shipping companies and customers are calling for action. As the consequences of COVID-19 spread around the world through 2020, transport and logistics came into sharp focus as a critical sector, ensuring that food, medical supplies, fuel, and other essential goods continued to be delivered. Twitter. Companies will need to demonstrate their commitment in 2021 and beyond to redoubling efforts to fight discrimination. by visiting our privacy page: www.ihrb.org/privacy. But financial opportunities abound – green bonds for example represent a $100 trillion pool of long-term private capital, yet accounted for only 3 percent of global bonds in 2018. Some policies go too far in monitoring people, alongside concerns about responsible business conduct. Financing just transitions will require a mix of levers – public, private, and philanthropic capital, with a mixture of state-led incentives and low-cost financing. Our 2021 Top 10 list reflects on the ongoing and unprecedented implications of COVID-19 across five key areas: redesigning supply chains, preventing the misuse of COVID-related technology, the crisis of crew change at sea, mass-scale theft of migrant workers’ wages, and uncertainties over the future of the modern workplace. With 90% of goods transported by sea, seafarers represent the lifeblood of the global economy. It also highlights five critical issues beyond the immediate effects of COVID-19 where the business and human rights agenda will demand attention in 2021. ... Inter Press Service, Friday, April 30, 2021 (posted by Global Issues)

… to produce this: Human Rights Watch: A … Society at large, around the world, will be watching the extent to which companies make black lives matter. Visions of a reformed global economy have been presented clearly, and financial actors have the power to accelerate the transformation in capitalism that is beginning to take hold in board room discussions. Established investment and trade rules and related processes have provided great certainty for companies over the past quarter century, allowing, for example, for the rapid expansion of global supply chains and cross border economic exchange. In 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee considered the case of Ioane Teitiota who sought refugee status in New Zealand for himself and his family due to the risks they faced in their Pacific Island home of Kiribati. All business sectors will need to confront the realities of climate-related migration – from finance and insurance, to energy, engineering and construction, to technology. Facebook. Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in 90 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Biden’s Challenge: Redeeming a US Role for Human Rights, Poverty, Pandemic, Police Violence: Ongoing Crises Demand the US Address Pervasive Racism, As Online Gender-Based Violence Booms, Governments Drag Their Feet, Addressing the Climate Crisis in Times of Pandemic, The Other Pandemic: Fighting Inequality as We Beat Back Covid, From Flight Logs to Homeschooling, Human Rights Watch Grapples with Covid’s Challenges. The human rights situation in the Philippines deteriorated in 2020. Numerous organisations have urged governments and port authorities to develop protocols on efficient crew change, including a joint letter from the heads of UN agencies. One case in particular rose to prominence in 2020, with research connecting vast networks of “political education camps” in China’s Xinjiang region to the supply chains of 82 well-known global brands. Human rights organisations and investors filed a petition urging the US Customs and Border Patrol to prohibit imports of all cotton-made goods linked to Xinjiang. But that is not enough. As students sat at their desks attempting to read and write, they were sweating so much their pencils tore through the paper. WhatsApp. At present, 1% of the world is a barely livable hot-zone. COVID-19: Vaccines are being administered in some countries but COVID-19 will continue to feature on the business and human rights agenda of 2021. It is common knowledge within the human rights community that HRW staff hold a rather different view of Israel and its conduct, and have been agitating for many years for their organization to hold Israel to the same standards it applies to others in the region. ... 27 April 2021. Numerous  initiatives and protocols are being developed to address the crisis. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth calls on the incoming US administration to more deeply embed respect for human rights as an element of domestic and foreign policy to counter the “wild oscillations in human rights policy” that in recent decades have come with each new resident of the White House. From fashion and retail to transportation, tourism, electronics, hospitality, and entertainment – buyers and suppliers were unprepared for the catastrophic disruption of shuttered businesses, locked down economies, and global trade on pause due to COVID-19. The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, re-elected in October 2019, has made efforts to advance human rights in Canada, but serious and longstanding challenges remain. Sign up for regular updates on IHRB news, events, blogs and publications. The pandemic severely escalated this situation. Calls for accountability and adherence to existing international standards will be more important than ever as geopolitical competition continues to heat up in strategic governance areas, such as the technology sector and in particular geographic contexts such as the world’s oceans. Financial institutions are increasingly considering the impacts of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues on financial return. Strengthening resilience in the predominantly urban areas where climate migrants move to will also be critical, including non-discrimination and inclusion, decent employment opportunities, and investment in infrastructure and services. That will require more than advocacy messages on sporting logos or redesigning websites. Important human rights failings of the United ... Further proceedings were postponed to at least 2021 due to Covid-19 and the consecutive ... Get Updates On Rights Issues From Around The Globe. Forced labour is often associated with exploitation of workers in private sector supply chains. NEW DELHI: The issue of human rights and rights of minorities figured in talks between US defence secretary Lloyd Austin with Indian ministers. Suicide rates among seafarers have increased, and physical and mental fatigue, anxiety about loved ones, and lack of connectivity to keep in touch are all exacerbating the crisis. Companies must act too. as page navigation and access to secure areas. And in so doing, the iniquitous system that allows workers to be treated with such disregard may finally be irrevocably broken. One of the most common forms of exploitation is witholding or theft of wages. Many have worked nine months straight (and counting) beyond their contracts, unable to return home. 2. This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. But amidst the strategic convergence, the US flagged its concerns over human rights and the S-400 acquisition. The year 2020 has seen a clear sharpening of divisions over the future of international standards governing business activities in a wide range of industries and settings. COVID-19 responses in many instances suffer from lack of transparency, and there are questions over accountability and surveillance. 2020 is culminating in a humanitarian crisis at sea, with over 400,000 seafarers “stranded” aboard ships. The 2020 World Migration Report calls for measures that ensure: people are enabled to choose whether, when, and with whom to move; access to livelihood opportunities and to remit resources that enhance adaptation; and the ability to move in a dignified, safe, and regular manner. But such changes may have adverse impacts on the mental health of isolated, atomised workers. This had an adverse financial impact on suppliers, and in turn their workers. Sea-level rise caused by global warming was contaminating water supplies and harming agriculture. Safety vs. Surveillance. Factories that rely on assembly-line production will redesign their shop-floor to expand space between individual units, possibly making factories more humane. Human Rights issues a report on Israel's implementation of the apartheid policy 2021-04-29T08:57:06.450Z Human Rights Watch accused Israel of “two crimes against humanity” of pursuing a policy of “apartheid” and “persecution” against Israeli Arabs and residents of the occupied Palestinian territories. And to truly realise a sustainable future, regulators must also clarify that investors have duties that not only allow for but actually require investors to integrate the kinds of sustainability impacts that will move the world toward net-zero in a socially just and sustainable manner. Turkey's president on Friday issued a circular on the government's new Human Rights Action Plan, as published in the … Climate-related migration, both internally within countries and across borders, is on the rise due to increased flooding, storms, and temperatures. Read the latest news stories: Online Violence: Weaponization of Deeply Rooted Misogyny, Sexism & Abuse of Power Friday, April 30, 2021; Chad: UN rights office profoundly disturbed over violence against protesters Friday, April 30, 2021; Middle East coordinator calls for new and timely Palestinian election date Friday, April 30, 2021 Europe: COVID must spark rethink to prioritize ‘human … H&M GROUP — SALIENT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES 2020 TRANSPARENT REPORTING SINCE 2002 4 H&M Group salient issues UPDATE MARCH 2021 ISSUE DEFINITION WHERE IN THE VALUE CHAIN IS AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL HARM MORE LIELY Living wages ILO Conventions 95 and 131 A wage level covering workers’ and their families’ basic needs and providing some discretionary income. Like health workers who have been rightly praised for their professionalism during the pandemic, the seafarers who keep supply chains moving, often at the cost of their own rights, must be fully protected. This information might include your geographical location, device, internet browser and operating system - none of this The persecution of Uyghurs extends well beyond Xinjiang, and beyond the risk of forced labour in supply chains. Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB) is the trading name of the Institute for Human Rights and Business Ltd. (limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales). This includes  a social contract that reflects the modern world of work, complete with a labour protection floor for all workers safeguarding their fundamental rights, adequate minimum wage, maximum working hours, and health and safety guarantees. It is an evolving concept encompassing public policies and business action to address impacts – on workers and communities – of moves away from emissions-intensive production (the transition “out”) and measures to generate the low- or zero-emissions products, services, and livelihoods of a sustainable society (the transition “in”). Teachers had to double-layer their clothing because their perspiration made their … IHRB’s annual forecast for the critical business and human rights issues that need urgent attention in 2021 is as stark as it has ever been. Tracking supply chains and tracing products and materials linked to such forms of exploitation might help preserve the integrity of brands, but systematic, state-imposed abuses will require a broader joint strategy from companies, governments, investors and human rights groups. “Resilience” will be the name of the supply chain game, focused on managing market change through simplified and more responsive distribution networks, cash flow cultures, end-to-end visibility, and what-if forecasting. 30/04/2021 16:37 : 30.04.2021 16:27 News >> Turkey Issues Circular On Human Rights Action Plan: Turkey Issues Circular On Human Rights Action Plan: On March 2, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled plan with 11 main principles to be carried out over course of 2 years. A similar number of workers urgently need to join ships to replace them. For legal reasons, companies may scan the temperature of employees on arrival and monitor employee movements within premises, raising challenges about data retention and privacy. please see https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/, Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment, Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), Masters Course in Business & Human Rights, Top 10 Business & Human Rights Issues for 2021, crime prevention methods and technologies, hiring more candidates from racial minorities, racial minorities have a disproportionately larger share among essential workers, new partnerships form to deliver COVID-19 vaccines, $3.5 trillion in energy sector investment, https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/. Many faced calls for further action. Viber. There is a long history of police violence in the US, with certain groups, such as black people, disproportionately impacted. 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