The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has published a report on business and human rights entitled
Any of our business? Human rights and the UK private sector. The report expresses disappointment in the Government’s lack of coherent strategy regarding the human rights impact of British companies and recommends that the Government should provide leadership in this area by making sure that all UK companies understand their responsibility to respect human rights, wherever they operate. In addition, the report argues that the Government should improve accountability menchanisms such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and expresses sympathy for the idea of a Commission for Business, Human Rights and the Environment.
Leigh Day partner Richard Meeran was invited to give evidence to the Joint Committee earlier this year. He specialises in claims on behalf of victims who have been injured or harmed through the actions of British companies operating overseas. He has taken many ground breaking cases such as Lubbe v. Cape plc which was a claim on behalf of South African miners who contracted asbestos-related diseases after working for Cape’s subsidiary in South Africa. Leigh Day has become a leading firm in the field of business and human rights and the international department has represented claimants from as far a field as South Africa, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Colombia, Peru, Iraq and Bangladesh.
Richard Meeran said:
"This is an important report which sets out the urgent need for Government to clarify the standards expected of British companies working in the developing world and to improve accountability mechanisms. This is an important call to action which the Governement cannot ignore."
Please contact
Richard Meeran or
Dan Leader with any queries on 020 7650 1200.
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