Policy Advocacy
Resource Hub
PBI UK is amplifying its efforts in policy advocacy, striving to do more to strengthen the policies and practices of governmental and business actors who have the power to alter the context for human rights and environmental defence in the medium term.
At the heart of this advocacy is a commitment to bridge the gap between the voices of human rights defenders on the front lines and the decision-makers.
In collaboration with human rights defenders, PBI UK is championing two pivotal policy areas:
A UK Business, Human Rights, and Environment Act
We call on the government to develop a comprehensive legislative framework that intertwines business practices with human rights and environmental protection.
Prioritisation of UK Human Rights Defenders Policy
We implore the UK Government to embrace a strategic approach by prioritising defenders within their initiatives. This involves developing a fully-funded, cross-departmental, and gender-responsive strategy to support the invaluable work of human rights defenders.
Below, you'll find a collection of reports, open letters and policy briefings that substantiate and provide depth to these calls to action.
A UK Business, Human Rights, and Environment Act
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The Case for Change: Why human rights defenders need a UK law on mandatory due diligence
Nov 2024 - PBI UK investigation shows links between UK companies, environmental devastation and attacks on rights activists calling for laws to ensure effective due diligence. The report details six cases from Colombia, Honduras, Indonesia and Mexico in which human rights defenders have faced brutal reprisals for standing up to extractive industries with links to UK companies or investors.
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Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill
Apr 2024 - Baroness Young of Hornsey, a crossbench Peer and leading advocate for new laws to protect people and the planet, introduced a proposal for the UK’s first law requiring companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence.
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Business & investors statement on human rights and environmental due diligence legislation
Apr 2024 - 167 businesses and investors released a statement calling on the UK Government to create ambitious Business Human Rights & Environment Act.
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The case for human rights due diligence laws in the United Kingdom
This Business and Human Rights Resource Centre portal brings together the latest facts, statistics and case studies to make the argument for a human rights and environmental due diligence law in the UK.
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A Business, Human Rights and Environment Act: Due Diligence to Protect the Environment and Achieve a Just Transition in Global Value Chains
Apr 2024 - This parliamentary briefing explains how a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act would protect the environment and contribute to achieving a just transition in global value chains.
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Bridging the gap: how could a UK business, human rights and environment act have made a difference?
Nov 2023 - This report includes 15 case studies demonstrating how UK companies, financial institutions and public bodies are connected to severe abuses – ranging from worker exploitation, modern slavery, abuse of indigenous peoples’ rights and the right to health to illegal deforestation and land-grabbing. The case studies show how a UK Business, Human Rights and Environment Act would have made a difference.
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Good Business Matters
Apr 2023 - As part of the Corporate Justice Coalition PBI UK is part of Good Business Matters, a civil society-led campaign for a new UK law on business, human rights and the environment. The good business matters platform includes the latest information on the campaign and a pledge from decision makers.
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Mandatory due diligence: an opportunity for the UK to protect the planet and those who defend it
Nov 2022 - PBI UK Director Ben Leather explains why it is high time the UK Government develop a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act.
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Parliamentary Briefing: A UK ‘Business, Human Rights and Environment Act’
Sept 2022 - This parliamentary briefing argues that we urgently need a new UK law to hold companies to account when they fail to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms in their global value chains.
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Business Statement on UK Human Rights Due Diligence
Sep 2022 - 50 businesses and investors signed an updated statement calling on the UK government to commit to human rights due diligence legislation.
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Investor Letter for UK Human Rights Due Diligence
Aug 2022 - 39 investors with a total of £4.5 trillion of assets called on the UK government to introduce a human rights due diligence law.
UK Human Rights Defender Policy
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The FCDO’s approach to supporting civil society and civil society organisations
Apr 2024 - PBI UK made a written submission to the International Development Committee inquiry focusing on the FCDO’s approach to supporting civil society and civil society organisations through its programming.
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How the UK government can defend the defenders
Dec 2023 - Over 50 organisations and unions from across the world have signed on to this briefing urging UK political parties to make support, protection and engagement of civil society & human rights defenders a central pillar of their foreign policy.
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Prioritising support, protection and engagement of human rights defenders in an Open Societies, Democracy and Human Rights Strategy
Mar 2023 - A joint submission to the FCDO’s consultation process on behalf of Amnesty International, Bond, the Fund for Global Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, the Law Society of England and Wales, and Peace Brigades International (PBI).
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On The Human Rights Frontline
Mar 2021 - Amnesty International, together with PBI UK and other allies published “On the Human Rights Frontline – How the UK government can defend the defenders”. We made the case for – and proposed a draft version of – a UK government strategy to promote civic space and improve support and protection for HRDs.
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UK Support for Human Rights Defenders
July 2019 - The UK Government support for Human Rights Defenders document outlines the importance of human rights defenders, and how the UK government can best support their work. The policy was developed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in close consultation with a number of non-governmental organisations (including PBI UK) and human rights defenders.