Weekly Update - 23 November 2016

• focuses on encryption as a tool to help protect human rights online
• ranks messaging apps by Apple, Blackberry, Facebook, Google, Kakao Co., Line, Microsoft, Snapchat, Telegram, Tencent, Viber Media
• Facebook (Facebook messenger; Whatsapp), Apple (iMessage, Facetime) & Telegram rated highest; Tencent (QQ, WeChat) ranked lowest

(Photo credit: Pexels)

Amanda Romero, Senior Researcher & Representative for South America

• Spanish & Chinese also available

• explore statements by sector & country of headquarters via interactive dashboard
• better practice: a handful of statements provide detailed information on supply chain transparency & modern slavery risks
• wider trends: most statements do not meet minimum requirements

• Development Officer (based in London or New York, deadline 5pm GMT today)
• Development Manager, Europe (based in London, deadline 5 Dec) 

Global Compact Network Netherlands, Oxfam & Shift

• includes case stories from Mexico, Indonesia, So. Africa, Turkey

BankTrack, Global Witness, Intl. Corporate Accountability Roundtable & 29 others

• letter responds to FMO's Sustainability Policy consultation; refers to killing of Berta Cáceres, who had protested FMO-funded Agua Zarca dam

• commentaries & statements from Center for Intl. Environmental Law, World Resources Institute, BSR, Greenpeace Intl., We Mean Business & others
• 365 businesses & govt. leaders urge Trump to back Paris Agreement
• Mary Robinson calls on businesses to lead climate action & just transition to renewable energy

UN Global Compact & UNICEF

Guardian (UK)

Nigeria Today

Chain Reaction Research (USA); Value Walk (USA)

Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability

• we approached companies mentioned in the report for a response
• response from Seyani Brothers & NGO rejoinder provided; we will indicate whether the other companies respond

Washington Post

Danish Institute for Human Rights

Peru Support Group

Paulina Garzón, China-Latin America Sustainable Investments Initiative, in Diálogo Chino

Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN

Guardian (UK)

AFP; Channel News Asia

Partido Manggagawa

• NGO issues rejoinder to Gap (reported buyer); Gap response provided
• response by Faremo’s parent company, Hansoll Textile, provided

Global Compact Network Germany; twentyfifty

Sun (UK)

Financial Times (UK)

• Total is first western energy firm to sign major deal with Iran since sanctions lifted
• Obama administration considers steps to provide licenses for more US firms to enter Iran market
• Briefing paper: "Doing responsible business in Iran"

• impact of free trade agreements on workers' rights (24 Nov, London)
• training on ethical trade for Irish food & farming companies (24-25 Nov, Kilkenny)
• webinar trainings on UNCTAD's Intl. Investment Agreements & Investor-State Dispute Settlement databases (28 Nov - 1 Dec, online)
• seminar: business & human rights in Mexican coal mining region (29 Nov, Dublin)
• business coaching on human rights due diligence (30 Nov, Johannesburg)
• forum on conflict minerals & supply chain transparency (30 Nov - 2 Dec, Berlin)
• achieving sustainability in the sugarcane industry (1-2 Dec, London)
• MA in Children's Rights, including child labour (apply by 1 Dec, Sion/Geneva)

• Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (2 posts: Development Manager, Europe; Development Officer)
• Human Rights Law Centre (Director of Advocacy)
• Impactt Limited (Project Team Intern)
• Intl. Finance Corp. (Research Analyst)
• Urgent Action Fund-Africa (2 posts; Communications & Knowledge Management Programme Officer; Partnerships & Development Manager)