Human rights defenders peacefully promote and defend human rights related to land, natural resources, livelihoods, and climate so that their communities can live sustainably.
However, many human rights defenders are subjected to threats and attacks because they denounce the negative impacts of corporate activities on populations, particularly in the context of major development projects that affect access to land and livelihoods.
ISHR believes that businesses and defenders share a "common civic space" defined by common fundamental freedoms. These freedoms are essential for the realization of all human rights, but also for the creation of stable, profitable, and sustainable business environments in which businesses and economies flourish and individuals prosper.
Today, human rights and corporate standards require companies to demonstrate responsibility and assess the risks associated with their activities. Companies can no longer hide behind complex global supply chains or a network of subsidiaries managed by authoritarian leaders. They must understand the specificities of the countries in which they invest, monitor the practices of their suppliers, and take into account the potential repercussions of operating in countries where governance is lacking and the rule of law is fragile.
ISHR supports defenders working on issues related to business and human rights, including:
- by strengthening their capacity to defend the rights of their community at the national and international levels;
- by strengthening mechanisms that protect them from intimidation and attacks; and
- by co-leading the Business Network for Civil Liberties and Human Rights Advocacy, a space for learning, discussion, and action that enables large international companies to reflect on their role in protecting civil liberties and human rights defenders around the world.
Read the full analysis via the link below.
https://ishr.ch/fr/nos-priorites/sujets-principaux/entreprises-et-droits-humains
