The discussion followed the recent proposal by European Commissioner Didier Reynders to introduce new mandatory human rights & environmental due diligence legislation in the European Union. The proposal was welcomed during the event by a broad range of actors, including member states, MEPs, businesses and investors. Speakers addressed what they considered to be essential facets of such legislation, in order to mainstream responsible business conduct and protect the environment, rights of workers and communities.
Many speakers argued in favor of elements aligned with FIDH and other civil society organisations’ propositions, which include:
– Civil and criminal liability
– Access to Remedy
– Reversal of the burden of proof
– A broad scope on all human rights and sectors
– A reach to all tiers of the supply chain
– Enforcement mechanisms
Watch the video of the full event:
List of keynote speakers
Mr. Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice
Mr. Björn Böhning,State Secretary, German Ministry of Labou r and Social Affairs
Ms. Lara Wolters, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Legal Affairs Committee for the S&D Group and Rapporteur for the Corporate Due Diligence and Corporate Accountability Report
Mr. Godwin Ojo, Director, Friends of the Earth Nigeria
Ms. Susanne Stormer, Chief Sustainability Adviser, VP, Novo Nordisk
Ms. Sandra Cossart, Director, Sherpa
List of contributors
Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament, The Greens/EFA
Johanna Sumuvuori, State Secretary, Government of Finland
Adela Diaz, Director of the Human Rights Office, Government of Spain
Frederic Nyström, Head of Responsible Investment, Ohman Group and member of The Investor Alliance for Human Rights
Heike Drillish, Coordinator of the Cora Network for Corporate Accountability
Timothy Gore, Head of Policy Food Justice, Oxfam
Professor Dirk-Jan Koch- Chief Science Office, Project leader of RBS initiative, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
Professor Anita Ramasastry, Member of the UN working group on Business and Human rights
Manon Aubry, Member of Parliament European Parliament, GUE/NGL
Francesco Tramontin, Director of Global Public Affairs, Mondelez
Isabelle Schömann, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation
Pedro Almeida, Senior officer, DG justice Policy, Ministry of Justice, Portugal
Odile Roussel, Special Representative for CSR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of France
Ales Kranjc Kuslan, Director, Ekvilib institute and board member SLOGA
Isabelle Buscke, Head of Brussels Office, Federation of German Consumer Organisations
Lis Cunha, Policy officer, Action aid