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Weekly Update - 25 January 2017
Lead Story

Killings of 3 human rights defenders this month - campaigning on mining & logging impacts in Colombia, Mexico, Philippines


Colombia: Emilsen Manyoma, campaigned over displacement of communities by mining & agribusiness

TeleSur TV


Mexico: Isidro Baldenegro López, campaigned on logging & deforestation; winner of Goldman Environmental prize

Guardian (UK); UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders


Philippines: Veronico Lapsay Delamente, indigenous activist, shot dead on day that tribal members were set to discuss community conflicts linked to nickel mining

Davao Today (Philippines)


Read more on business & human rights defenders
(Photo credits: CONPAZ,Goldman Environmental Prize, Davao Today)   
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From Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
New legal case map: 50+ corporate accountability lawsuits & OECD complaints

Liberty Asia and Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

  • with summaries of proceedings, information on countries & issues involved, legislation
Blog: "How the UK Modern Slavery Act can find its bite"

Patricia Carrier, MSA Registry Project Manager & Joe Bardwell, Corporate Accountability & Communications Officer, in openDemocracy


New vacancy: Legal Research Intern (based in London, deadline 12 Feb)
 
International
Thun Group of Banks releases Discussion Paper on implications of UN Guiding Principles for corporate & investment banking

2017 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights - Call for information about projects on access to remedy (due: 8 Feb)

Oxfam Intl. Executive Director calls for urgent action on tax avoidance - as a human rights issue

Guardian (UK)

NGOs urge World Bank to stop support for "Enabling the Business of Agriculture" project - say it increases profits to companies but disadvantages local farmers

More than 150 civil society organizations & academics


Gavi Vaccine Alliance & DHL launch partnership to improve vaccine shipment in developing countries

Handy Shipping Guide (USA)


Reminder: OHCHR invites comments on draft scoping paper on State-based non-judicial mechanisms (due: 30 Jan)
Africa
Kenya: Women fear missing out on compensation due to lack of formal land titles following displacement to pave way for coal plant

Reuters


Zimbabwe: Relocated families tell stories of living in abject poverty; say ZCDC & previous diamond companies not fulfilling their promises

News Day (Zimbabwe)

  • villagers currently taking ZCDC to court over forced evictions
Tanzania: Govt. says uranium mining to go ahead on natural reserve despite environmental & health concerns

EastAfrican (Kenya)
Americas
Canadian court rules that Ecuadorean judgment cannot be enforced against Canadian subsidiary in Chevron oil pollution lawsuit; plaintiffs will likely appeal

Canadian Press

Guatemala: NGOs & communities protesting hydroelectric project by Promoción y Desarrollos Hídricos allege repression, killing of activist by armed men

Various NGOs

  • we invited Promoción y Desarrollos Hídricos to respond; response provided (only in Spanish)
Brazil: Repórter Brasil releases report on poor working conditions & irregular use of pesticides on certified coffee farms; includes companies’ comments

Repórter Brasil

  • refers to Café do Cedro, Ecom Trading, Eisa – Empresa Interagrícola, Fal Coffee, Mariana de Carvalho Junqueira, Nestlé, Starbucks
Asia & Pacific
Indonesia: President orders immediate revocation of permits for companies found to be involved in forest fires

Online Citizen


Myanmar: Mandalay farmers stage sit-in, demand suspension & investigation of mining activities allegedly on their land

Myanmar Times


Bangladesh: Accord on Fire & Building Safety calls on govt. to protect workers' rights & rectify abuses during recent protests

Steering Committee, Accord on Fire & Building Safety in Bangladesh


Pakistan: Families of nine Gadani ship-breaking yard fire victims receive compensation

Dawn (Pakistan)
Europe & Central Asia
UK: Brothers jailed for 6 years under Modern Slavery Act for exploiting Polish workers

Financial Times


France: Court fines easyJet over refusal to allow disabled passenger to board plane

AFP


Italy: Prosecutors appeal judge's decision to downgrade charges against ex-Eternit CEO over asbestos exposure deaths

ANSA (Italy)
Middle East & North Africa
Turkey: 450 subcontracted workers terminated after landslide in Park Electric mine

Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey)


Jordan-EU meeting on EU rules of origin trade deal "postponed indefinitely"
Albawaba
  • deal aims to generate investment linked to employment opportunities for Syrian refugees
Company responses
Events
Forthcoming events:
  • webinar: role of new technologies in detecting labour trafficking & exploitation (26 Jan)
  • talk on labour migration in the UAE (26 Jan, London)
  • emergent standards & expectations on responsible business (26 Jan, online)
  • roundtable on human rights in the big data era (27 Jan, Brussels)
  • interactive masterclass on business & human rights, modern slavery reporting (31 Jan, London)
Details of these and other events further in the future can be found here.  Please send relevant event information to Alex Janczenia: janczenia@business-humanrights.org  
Jobs
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (Legal Research Intern)

Other current vacancies:
  • Global Compact Brazil (Programme Analyst for Global Compact - Environment)
  • Oxfam America (Senior Advisor - Corporate Tax and Accountability)
  • International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Program Coordinator - Corporate Accountability Working Group)
  • Global Reporting Initiative (2 posts: Deputy Director & Manager, Sector Programme)
  • CDA Collaborative Learning Projects (Senior Advisor - Responsible Business)
Further details and other recently posted jobs available here.  To submit a new job announcement in business & human rights please go here.
DISCLAIMER:
We take no position on views by commentators, organizations & companies in the materials in this email: http://business-humanrights.org/en/about-us/disclaimer
Copyright © 2017 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, All rights reserved.


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