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By: BankTrack
2019-10-29 18:32:24

Contact:

BankTrack contact persons for this campaign:

Ryan Brightwell, BankTrack


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Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.". Photo: riacale/flickr. Original artwork from UN "human rights wall", Geneva.

BankTrack's Human Rights campaign

Banks can cause human rights violations themselves, such as through discrimination in their hiring or service provision, and they can contribute or be linked to human rights violations through lending or other financial support for the companies responsible (see Further Information, below). For example, banks have provided finance for agricultural companies involved in land grabs; loans for large dams which displace Indigenous Peoples; lending to mining companies which have benefitted from paramilitary violence around their operations; and supported companies with forced or child labour in their supply chains. 

BankTrack's human rights campaign pushes for banks to fully meet their responsibilities to respect human rights and human dignity across their operations. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, unanimously endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011, provide the clearest expression of these responsibilities. Since 2011 we have focused on the following three areas:

  1. Benchmarking banks on their implementation of the UN Guiding Principles
  2. Challenging bank finance for human rights abuses, and
  3. Engaging with international policy debates and with banks directly.

1. Benchmarking banks on the UN Guiding PrinciplesBanking with Principles? 2016 update front cover

BankTrack's "Banking with Principles?" report benchmarks large banks around the world on their progress in implementing the UN Guiding Principles. The second version of the report, in June 2016, assessed and scored the human rights policies, processes and reporting of 45 banks against criteria based on the UN Guiding Principles. Over half of banks scored between 0 and 3 out of a possible 12 points, showing little or no evidence of human rights due diligence, and the report identified three major gaps that all banks are failing to address.

  • Download "Banking with Principles? June 2016"  or read the news release.
  • Download "Banking with Principles? December 2014"  or read the news release.

2. Challenging bank finance for human rights abuse

In 2016 BankTrack began a series of Human Rights Impact Briefings examining bank links to specific human rights impacts. For each briefing, the banks involved are asked to describe the actions they have taken to address these impacts, in line with their responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles.Human Rights Impact Briefing #2 front page

  • The first briefing investigated labour standards violations in IOI Corporation's Malaysian plantations
  • The second briefing investigated Drummond and paramilitary violence in Colombia
  • The third briefing investigated Trafigura, Vitol and the supply of high sulphur "Dirty Diesel" to Africa

Responses received from banks have varied, but the majority did not provide a substantive response. Rather, they provided general descriptions of their human rights policies and due diligence processes, which shed little or no light on the actions taken by the bank. If bank policies work, we would expect to see better responses from banks which score well on their human rights policies. We hope to be able to draw firm conclusions about whether this is the case in future. However early indications are that this is not necessarily the case.

Dodgy Deals on the BankTrack website also provide details of the human rights impacts of the project or company concerned.

3. Engaging with international policy debates and with banks directly.

BankTrack also engages with banks individually and collectively on human rights matters. This has included engagement with the the informal "Thun Group of banks", which was formed to discuss the implications of the UN Guiding Principles for the banking sector. We welcomed the Thun Group's first Discussion Paper in October 2013 and provided a response highlighting some key concerns. We also responded to the Thun Group's second Discussion Paper in January 2017, coordinating an open letter calling for it to be withdrawn, and produced a Fact Sheet summarising UN advice which the paper had failed to take into account. After the Thun Group updated its paper in December 2017, clarifying but not substantially changing its position, BankTrack responded with an open letter urging the Thun Group to follow a robust process of stakeholder consultation for any subsequent papers, in line with the advice of the UN Working Group. Unfortunately its response did not indicate a willingness to do so.

In December 2017 we produced a further briefing paper, "How banks contribute to human rights violations", presenting eight case examples.

In 2018 we published "Developing Effective Grievance Mechanisms in the Banking Sector" with Oxfam Australia, to encourage banks to meet their responsibilities to ensure access to remedy. This was presented to banks via two webinars (see recording here).

Developing Effective Grievance Mechanisms, cover

We are also engaged in the Advisory Group to the OECD Proactive Agenda Project for Responsible Business Conduct in the Financial Sector, through which we aim to encourage higher standards in the implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies, particularly in the field of human rights. 

BankTrack has been a regular presence at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights since 2012. In 2013 we presented our response to the Thun Group. In 2014 we convened a panel on human rights and the finance sector. In 2015 we participated in a panel on "providing access to effective remedy in the financial sector". In 2016 we co-organised a panel on "Banks & the UNGPs: implementation case studies and dilemmas". In 2017, although we did not participate in a panel discussion, we contributed an article to the UN Forum Blog, titled "steps forward and steps back on the road to access to remedy in the banking sector".

Further information: the human rights responsibilities of private sector banks

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that "every organ of society", including business enterprises and therefore banks, has human rights obligations. Human rights are typically grouped into (1) civil and political rights, and (2) economic, social and cultural rights. Banks have the potential to impact upon all these rights, both positively and negatively, and in a multiplicity of ways. For example, a bank may engage with a client with a disputable track record on human rights, enabling them to continue operating. Banks may also provide essential finance to clients that are involved in activities that directly impact upon human rights, such as manufacturing and trading of arms.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, (UNGPs) unanimously endorsed by the Human Rights Council in June 2011, provide clarity on the expectations of the international community regarding the human rights responsibilities of corporations. With the Guiding Principles, the UN Human Rights Council defined the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which is entirely and unambiguously binding for the financial sector.

The UN Office of the High Comissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights are the two UN bodies with a mandate to interpret the UNGPs. They have provided advice  clarifying the responsibilities of the finance sector under the UNGPs. In particular, the OHCHR provided a detailed guidance note in June 2017 in a response to BankTrack.  

Download the OHCHR guidance note here
Download the OHCHR’s cover letter here
Download BankTrack’s letter to the OHCHR here

Further advice regarding the banking sector's responsibility was published in response to a paper by the Thun Group in January 2017, and is collected on the website of the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.


Top Publications

The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark 2019
2019-11-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
Developing effective Grievance Mechanisms in the banking sector
2018-07-05 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Oxfam Australia
“We are unable to comment on specific customers...”
2019-03-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack

Campaign topics

Campaign Timeline

2019-10-28 12:48:11

Human Rights Impact Briefings

2019-10-28 12:48:11

Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on Human Rights

2019-10-28 12:48:11

Related banks

Agricultural Bank of China China

ANZ Australia

Banco Bradesco Brazil

Banco do Brasil Brazil

Banco Santander Spain

Bank of America United States

Bank of China China

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Canada

Barclays United Kingdom

BBVA Spain

BNP Paribas France

BPCE France

Caixa Economica Federal Brazil

China Construction Bank China

Citi United States

Commerzbank Germany

Commonwealth Bank Australia

Crédit Agricole France

Crédit Mutuel France

Credit Suisse Switzerland

Deutsche Bank Germany

Goldman Sachs United States

HSBC United Kingdom

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) China

ING Netherlands

Intesa Sanpaolo Italy

Itaú-Unibanco Brazil

JPMorgan Chase United States

Lloyds Banking Group United Kingdom

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Japan

Mizuho Financial Group Japan

Morgan Stanley United States

National Australia Bank (NAB) Australia

Nordea Finland

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Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Canada

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) United Kingdom

Scotiabank Canada

Société Générale France

Standard Chartered United Kingdom

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Japan

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Japan

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) Canada

UBS Switzerland

UniCredit Italy

Wells Fargo United States

Westpac Australia

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Projects

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oil and gas | transport and infrastructure
There are no projects active for Banks and human rights now.
On record

Agua Zarca hydro project Honduras

energy plants - dams
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Batang Coal Power Project Indonesia

energy plants - coal
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mining - non coal
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energy plants - dams
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energy plants - dams
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Guaigui dam Dominican Republic

energy plants - dams
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Ilisu dam Turkey

energy plants - dams
On record

Jaitapur nuclear power plant India

energy plants - nuclear
On record

Kajbar dam Sudan

energy plants - dams
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Kaltim Prima Coal mine Indonesia

mining - coal
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Lower Sesan 2 dam Cambodia

energy plants - dams
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Minas Conga mining project Peru

mining - non coal
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Myitsone hydroelectric dam Myanmar

energy plants - dams
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Nam Theun 2 dam Laos

energy plants - dams
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Pascua Lama gold mining project Argentina

mining - non coal
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Phulbari coal mine Bangladesh

mining - coal
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POSCO integrated steel project India

manufacturing
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Rio Madeira dams: Jirau and Santo Antonio Brazil

energy plants - dams
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Shwe gas and pipelines projects Myanmar

oil and gas
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Theun-Hinboun dam expansion Laos

energy plants - dams
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Woodside Petroleum’s gas refinery Australia

oil and gas
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Xayaburi dam Laos

energy plants - dams

Companies

There are no companies active for Banks and human rights now.
On record

Arch Coal United States

mining - coal
On record

Areva France

energy plants - nuclear | energy plants - renewables | mining - non coal | nuclear industry
On record

BHP Billiton Australia

mining - coal | mining - non coal | oil and gas
On record

Drummond United States

mining - coal
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Eletrobras Brazil

energy distribution | energy efficiency | energy plants - biomass | energy plants - dams | energy plants - nuclear | energy plants - ocean energy | energy plants - solar | energy plants - thermoelectric | energy plants - wind | energy transmission
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IOI Corporation Malaysia

agriculture - palm oil
On record

Trafigura Singapore

commodities trading | oil and gas | transport and infrastructure
On record

Vedanta Resources United Kingdom

mining - non coal
On record

Vitol Switzerland

commodities trading | oil and gas | transport and infrastructure

News

| |
Type:
Year:
blog
external news
our news

Most banks fall short of U.N. human rights principles, BankTrack finds

2019-11-27 | Pensions&Investments
blog
external news
our news

Most banks fall short of UN human rights principles, BankTrack finds

2019-11-27 | P&I
blog
external news
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4 out of 5 banks failing on human rights, new BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark shows

Lloyds, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Société Générale among the poorest performers in BankTrack ranking, alongside Canadian and Chinese banks
2019-11-26 | BankTrack
blog
external news
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Civil society groups call for an accountability mechanism for the Equator Principles

2019-08-27 | BankTrack, Accountability Counsel
blog
external news
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Consent is Everybody's Business: Why banks need to act on free, prior and informed consent

Banks must stand with Indigenous and local communities in respecting their land rights
2019-08-20 | Imke Greven, Oxfam Policy Advisor Land Rights.
blog
external news
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SumOfUs Report Exposes French Insurer's Complicity in War Crimes

Report reveals that AXA invests in banned weapons manufacturers and banks that finance illegal Israeli Settlements
2019-07-08 | SumOfUs
blog
external news
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Duty of Care: Total served formal notice for its activities in Uganda

2019-06-27 | Friends of the Earth France
blog
external news
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‘We should/could ensure rights-holders affected by our clients’ activities have greater access to remedy, but we won’t let them know about it’

The Dutch Banking Sector Agreement’s Discussion Paper on Enabling Remediation
2019-06-26 | Benjamin Grama
blog
external news
our news

BankTrack 2019 Human Rights Benchmark: criteria and scope announced

2019-06-25 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
our news

World’s biggest banks routinely hide links to human rights and environmental abuses behind client confidentiality – study

2019-03-26 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
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Banking on Climate Change – Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card 2019

World's top banks have poured $1.9 trillion into fossil fuel financing since the Paris Agreement was adopted, with financing on the rise each year
2019-03-20 | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | BankTrack, Honor the Earth, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club
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external news
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Banks must show their teeth to tackle cocoa abuses

BankTrack’s view of the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement’s Cocoa Paper
2018-12-20 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
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How to move the world: the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement's Increasing Leverage paper, phase one

2018-10-18 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
blog
external news
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Not rushing these things: The first Annual Report of the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on Human Rights

2018-08-29 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
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Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on Human Rights publishes first annual report plus leverage and cocoa papers

2018-08-16 | BankTrack
blog
external news
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BankTrack and Oxfam Australia call on banks to ensure access to remedy for victims of human rights abuses

New briefing paper explores private sector banks’ responsibilities for effective grievance mechanisms
2018-07-03 | BankTrack, Oxfam Australia
blog
external news
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Banks and human rights: The Thun Group must step up

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2018-03-27 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
blog
external news
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New Briefing Paper: How banks contribute to human rights violations

2017-12-08 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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external news
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2017-11-17 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
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2017-09-27 | Global Witness
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Israel/Palestine: Israeli banks supporting settlements

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2017-09-13 | Jerusalem | Human Rights Watch
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Fossil fuels and human rights – bank support for abuses has to stop

2017-07-13 | Alison Kirsch - Rainforest Action Network
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UN office publishes detailed human rights guidance for banks

2017-06-15 | BankTrack
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Banks provide billions for Dirty Diesel traders while failing to act on human rights, says new briefing

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- Of 26 banks contacted, not one has pressured companies over toxic fuel exports to Africa
2017-05-23 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Banks and pension funds fail to act on allegations against Lundin Petroleum

2017-04-27 | Fair Finance Guide Sweden, Swedwatch
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2017-03-29 | Paris | Association France Palestine Solidarité, CCFD - Terre Solidaire, Fair Finance France, FIDH, LDH, Solidaires
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2017-02-28 | BankTrack
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2017-02-16 | Ryan Brightwell – BankTrack
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2016-06-29 | Responsible Investor [$]
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2016-06-27 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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Most banks failing to deliver on UN human rights principles: new research

BankTrack releases 2016 update of "Banking with Principles?" report
2016-06-27 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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2016-06-16 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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2016-06-16 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
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2016-05-25 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
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2016-04-22 | London | Move Your Money UK
blog
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Stuart Gulliver ‘has blood on his hands’ as HSBC AGM shines light on human rights abuses

2016-04-22 | London | Move Your Money UK
blog
external news
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New BankTrack Human Rights Impact Briefing: Labour standards violations in IOI Corporation’s Malaysian plantations

2016-02-16 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
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New BankTrack Human Rights Impact Briefing: Labour standards violations in IOI Corporation’s Malaysian plantations

2016-02-16 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
our news

Luxembourg: Serious gaps exposed in banking regulations to stem reckless arms trade that fuels atrocities

2016-01-29 | Luxembourg | Amnesty International
blog
external news
our news

BankTrack Blog: Access to remedy: Earth calling the banking sector

2015-11-20 | BankTrack Blog
blog
external news
our news

UN FORUM SERIES – What should banks do to take human rights seriously?

2015-10-31 | LSE Business & Human Rights blog
blog
external news
our news

Investment Alert on Coal India share offer

Forthcoming share sale follows years of environmental and human rights controversy
2015-09-22 | BankTrack
blog
external news
our news

First bank becomes early adopter of UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework: Dutch bank ABN AMRO commits to public reporting using groundbreaking human rights reporting framework

2015-06-24 | UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework
blog
external news
our news

Swedish banks in breach of human rights guidelines

2015-06-17 | Stockholm | Amnesty International, Swedish Consumers’ Association, Fair Finance Guide
blog
external news
our news

Blog: Three and a half years on from the UN Guiding Principles, is it really “premature” to ask whether banks are implementing them?

2015-01-21 | Nijmegen | BankTrack blog
blog
external news
our news

Hundreds of civil society groups demand human rights are enshrined in 2015 climate agreement

2014-12-11 | Lima | International NGOs coalition
blog
external news
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Only Half of Global Banks Have Policy to Respect Human Rights

2014-12-09 | Inter Press Service
blog
external news
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Banks not yet living up to UN human rights principles, finds BankTrack

New research finds inadequate reporting on human rights impacts, and failure to establish mechanisms to allow complaints.
2014-12-02 | Geneva | BANKTRACK
blog
external news
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Bumi’s Deadly Coal

New report reveals extensive water contamination and human rights violations by Bumi’s KPC coal mine
2014-08-21 | Jakarta | JATAM and Greenpeace
blog
external news
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Banks and human rights: Assessing strengths and weaknesses of the Thun Group’s approach

2014-08-11 | Righting Finance
blog
external news
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OECD releases letters clarifying banks’ human rights responsibilities

2014-07-22 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
our news

BankTrack Blog: Banks and human rights: hopes for progress from the Thun Group?

2014-06-19 | Thun | BankTrack Blog
blog
external news
our news

Batang Coal-Fired Power Plant – Human Rights Violations Continue, Residents Attacked Again in Violent Clash with Police

2014-05-12 | No Coal, Go Green
blog
external news
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ESCR-Net calls for Suspension of POSCO-India Steel Project Amidst Ongoing Human Rights Concerns

2014-01-16 | New York
blog
external news
our news

Credit Suisse ignored own human rights commitments - watchdog

2013-12-13 | London | Thompson Reuters
blog
external news
our news

Are big banks short-selling their leverage over human rights?

2013-11-01 | The Guardian
blog
external news
our news

BankTrack welcomes Thun Group paper on banks and human rights

Call for access to remedy for victims bank-financed human rights abuses
2013-10-11 | Nijmegen | BankTrack
blog
external news
our news

Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network call out Bank of America for major stake in Coal India deal

Human rights abuses and widespread deforestation overlooked while banking giant aids world’s largest coal mining company
2013-09-04 | San Francisco | Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network
blog
external news
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New website on human rights abuses linked to financial sector, launched (December 2012)

2012-12-09
blog
external news
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How to use the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in company research and advocacy

New guide for civil society organisations
2012-11-29 | Global | SOMO, CEDHA and Cividep India
blog
external news
our news

Pension funds and banks invest millions in companies that supply controversial communication systems to Syria

2012-07-17 | The Hague, The netherlands | Oxfam Novib
blog
external news
our news

Banco Santander ranked second in the Spanish armed banking

2012-03-28 | Madrid, Spain | SETEM
blog
external news
our news

Swiss Banks and Human Rights:

Credit Suisse, UBS and Human Rights
2011-07-14 | Switzerland | Berne Declaration
blog
external news
our news

Bank of Montreal Confronted on Indigenous Rights

2011-03-23 | RAN blog
blog
external news
our news

New Report on human rights violations by dams in Turkey

2011-03-14 | Potsdam, Germany | Countercurrent/ Gegenstroemung
blog
external news
our news

BP violating human rights rules, says UK government

Company failed to respond to alleged intimidation by Turkish security forces along its UK-backed Caspian oil pipeline
2011-03-09 | UK | The Corner House et. al
blog
external news
our news

Success: Credit Suisse takes a step toward transparency

2010-11-25 | Zuerich, Switzerland | Berne Declaration
blog
external news
our news

Berne Declaration reveals: Swiss banks cooperate with human rights abusers

2010-04-15 | Zürich | Berne Declaration
blog
external news
our news

Victoire Pinocchio : le Crédit Agricole revend ses titres Dongfeng

2009-10-29 | Paris, France | Les Amis de la Terre
blog
external news
our news

Banks shun harmful investments

New report shows examples of pioneering banks
2008-06-11 | Brussels | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

Bank Secrets Cracked

New report reveals alarming investment practices by financial groups
2007-12-11 | Brussels | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

Genocide in Darfur

No business with death
2007-10-29 | Zürich | Berne Declaration
blog
external news
our news

Human Rights are Banking Risks

New BankTrack paper released at UN consultation
2007-02-16 | Geneva | Berne Declaration
blog
external news
our news

Banks Have a Responsibility in Respecting Human Rights

BankTrack calls on UN special representative to include banking sector in final report to UN Commission on Human Rights
2006-12-18 | Utrecht | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

No party time for Burmese democrats

Action at Belgian banks against investments in Burma
2006-06-19 | Brussels, Belgium | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

Shareholders protest against ING investments in human rights abuses

Critical questions during the ING Annual General Meeting
2006-04-25 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

Belgian campaign puts banks under pressure to stop investing in Burma

Municipalities for Burma
2006-03-16 | Belgium | Netwerk Vlaanderen
blog
external news
our news

Belgian bank groups invest in companies that abuse human rights

Press Release Netwerk Vlaanderen
2006-01-11 | Brussels, Belgium | Netwerk Vlaanderen

Documents

| | | | | | | | | | | |
Type:
Year:
our publications
2019-11-26 00:00:00

The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark 2019: Summary and key findings

Four-page executive summary version
2019-11-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2019-11-26 00:00:00

The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark 2019

Third Edition, November 2019
2019-11-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2019-11-26 00:00:00

The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark 2019

Third Edition, November 2019
2019-11-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
correspondence
2019-09-03 00:00:00

Letter from Nordea to BankTrack on comments on 2019 Human Rights Benchmark

2019-09-03 00:00:00 | Nordea
correspondence
2019-10-02 00:00:00

Letter from Bank of Montreal to BankTrack on comments on 2019 Human Rights Benchmark

comments on 2019 Human Rights Benchmark
2019-10-02 00:00:00 | Bank of Montreal
our publications
2019-06-24 00:00:00

BankTrack 2019 Human Rights Benchmark: criteria and scope

2019-06-24 00:00:00 | BankTrack
ngo documents
2018-11-30 00:00:00

Enhancing the Alignment of the Equator Principles with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

A Public Summary of Shift’s Advice to the Equator Principles Association
2018-11-30 00:00:00 | Shift
our publications
2019-03-26 00:00:00

“We are unable to comment on specific customers...”

Challenging banks on client confidentiality
2019-03-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2019-03-26 00:00:00

“We are unable to comment on specific customers...”

Challenging banks on client confidentiality
2019-03-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
ngo documents
2017-07-03 00:00:00

Deadly Investments

UK bank complicity in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people
2017-07-03 00:00:00 | War on Want
our publications
2018-09-19 00:00:00

Webinar: Banks and Grievance Mechanisms, September 2018

2018-09-19 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2018-07-05 00:00:00

Developing effective Grievance Mechanisms in the banking sector

2018-07-05 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Oxfam Australia
our publications
2018-07-05 00:00:00

Developing effective Grievance Mechanisms in the banking sector

2018-07-05 00:00:00 | BankTrack, Oxfam Australia
correspondence
2018-03-22 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack and 18 others to Thun Group paricipants on December 2017 update

Re: Significant concerns regarding Thun Group Discussion Paper
2018-03-22 00:00:00 | BankTrack and 18 others
correspondence
2018-03-01 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack to the secretariat and parties to the Dutch Banking sector agreement on human rights on first report of the independent monitoring committee

2018-03-01 00:00:00 | BankTrack
ngo documents
2018-02-27 00:00:00

How Banks Contribute to Human Rights Violations: Responses to the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

2018-02-27 00:00:00 | Edited by BankTrack
our publications
2017-12-08 00:00:00

How banks contribute to human rights violations

BankTrack Human Rights Briefing Paper
2017-12-08 00:00:00 | BankTrack
ngo documents
2017-11-30 00:00:00

Major international banks continue to finance palm oil company Indofood despite evidence of systemic labor abuses

Forest & Finance Briefing
2017-11-30 00:00:00 | RAN, TuK Indonesia & Profundo
our publications
2016-06-30 00:00:00

Banking with Principles? Second Edition June 2016

Benchmarking Banks against the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
2016-06-30 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2017-07-05 00:00:00

Fact sheet: “contribution” and “direct linkage” to human rights impacts through bank finance

Prepared by BankTrack for the June 2017 meeting of the Thun Group
2017-07-05 00:00:00 | BankTrack
correspondence
2017-03-06 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack to OHCHR on application of the UN Guiding Principles in the banking sector

2017-03-06 00:00:00 | BankTrack
correspondence
2017-06-14 00:00:00

Letter from OHCHR to BankTrack on application of the UN Guiding Principles in the banking sector

(Cover letter)
2017-06-14 00:00:00 | OHCHR
correspondence
2017-06-14 00:00:00

Letter from OHCHR to BankTrack on application of the UN Guiding Principles in the banking sector

OHCHR response to request from BankTrack for advice regarding the application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the context of the banking sector
2017-06-14 00:00:00 | OHCHR
our publications
2017-05-23 00:00:00

Human Rights Impact Briefing #3: Banks and Dirty Diesel

2017-05-23 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2017-05-23 00:00:00

Human Rights Impact Briefing: Banks and Dirty Diesel – Appendices

2017-05-23 00:00:00 | BankTrack
ngo documents
2016-09-01 00:00:00

Dirty Diesel

How Swiss Traders Flood Africa with Toxic Fuels
2016-09-01 00:00:00 | Public Eye
correspondence
2017-03-14 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack to Thun Group on concerns regarding Thun Group discussion paper on human rights

2017-03-14 00:00:00 | BankTrack
correspondence
2017-02-28 00:00:00

Letter from Thun Group to BankTrack on SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING THUN GROUP DISCUSSION PAPER

2017-02-28 00:00:00 | Thun Group
other documents
2017-02-21 00:00:00

Comments on Thun Group of Banks Discussion Paper

on the Implications of UN Guiding Principles 13 & 17 In a Corporate and Investment Banking Context
2017-02-21 00:00:00 | Prof. John G. Ruggie
correspondence
2017-02-14 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack and others to Thun Group of Banks on Significant Concerns Regarding Thun Group Discussion Paper

2017-02-14 00:00:00 | BankTrack and others
annual reports
2016-12-21 00:00:00

ABN AMRO Human Rights Report 2016​

2016-12-21 00:00:00 | ABN AMRO
csr policies
2016-11-27 00:00:00

Environmental and Social Risk Policy Framework

2016-11-27 00:00:00 | Bank of America
csr policies
2015-12-01 00:00:00

Environmental and Social Risk Management

2015-12-01 00:00:00 | Wells Fargo
bank documents
2016-09-13 00:00:00

Crédit Agricole response to BankTrack

2016-09-13 00:00:00 | Crédit Agricole
bank documents
2016-09-13 00:00:00

Sumitomo Mitsui response to BankTrack

2016-09-13 00:00:00 | Sumitomo Mitsui
bank documents
2016-07-25 00:00:00

HSBC response to Banktrack report

RE "Banking with Principles?" 2016
2016-07-25 00:00:00
correspondence
2016-07-21 00:00:00

Letter from Banco Santander to BankTrack on Banking with Principles report

2016-07-21 00:00:00 | Santander
our publications
2016-05-25 00:00:00

Human Rights Impact Briefing #2: Drummond and paramilitary violence in Colombia

2016-05-25 00:00:00 | BankTrack
correspondence
2016-04-25 00:00:00

Letter from Rabobank to BankTrack on Banking with Principles? 2016 Update

2016-04-25 00:00:00 | Rabobank
csr policies
2016-03-24 00:00:00

Human Rights Statement

2016-03-24 00:00:00 | Deutsche Bank
csr policies
2016-03-02 00:00:00

Sustainability Policy Framework

2016-03-02 00:00:00 | Rabobank
our publications
2016-02-16 00:00:00

Human Rights Impact Briefing #1:Labour standards violations in IOICorporation’s Malaysian plantations

2016-02-16 00:00:00 | BankTrack
bank documents
2016-01-22 00:00:00

BANKS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A LEGAL ANALYSIS

A collaboration between Foley Hoag LLP and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
2016-01-22 00:00:00 | UNEP FI, Foley Hoag
correspondence
2016-01-15 00:00:00

Letter from Citi to BankTrack on IOI Corporation Human Rights Impact Briefing

2016-01-15 00:00:00 | Citi
correspondence
2015-12-11 00:00:00

Letter from JPMorgan Chase to BankTrack on IOI Corporation Human Rights Impact Briefing

2015-12-11 00:00:00 | JPMorgan Chase
correspondence
2015-12-11 00:00:00

Letter from Deutsche Bank to BankTrack on IOI Corporation Human Rights Impact Briefing

2015-12-11 00:00:00 | Deutsche Bank
bank documents
2015-12-09 00:00:00

ABN Amro Human Rights Guide

2015-12-09 00:00:00 | ABN AMRO
our publications
2015-11-16 00:00:00

Providing access to effective remedy in the financial sector: panel discussion

BankTrack Opening remarks to UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, 16 November 2015
2015-11-16 00:00:00
csr policies
2015-11-05 00:00:00

Human Rights Position Statement

2015-11-05 00:00:00 | Commonwealth Bank
csr policies
2015-11-02 00:00:00

Environmental Policy Framework

2015-11-02 00:00:00 | Goldman Sachs
ngo documents
2015-06-17 00:00:00

IRRESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS

A study of Swedish banks’ investments in companies linked to human rights abuses
2015-06-17 00:00:00 | Fair Finance Guide Sweden, Amnesty International
ngo documents
2015-01-09 00:00:00

Japanese Banks' Involvements in Human Rights Violations based on 4 Cases

Executive Summary of Fair Finance Guide Japan 1st Case Study
2015-01-09 00:00:00 | Published by A SEED JAPAN, JACSES and PARC
our publications
2014-12-02 00:00:00

Banking with Principles?

Benchmarking Banks against the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
2014-12-02 00:00:00 | BankTrack
csr policies
2014-10-23 00:00:00

Human Rights Statement

2014-10-23 00:00:00 | ABN AMRO
csr policies
2018-04-01 00:00:00

Human Rights policy

2018-04-01 00:00:00 | Mizuho Financial Group
other documents
2014-06-26 00:00:00

Expert letters and statements on the application of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the context of the financial sector

Reference material for the session on Responsible Business Conduct in the Financial Sector of the Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct taking place in Paris on 26-27 June 2014.
2014-06-26 00:00:00 | OECD
ngo documents
2013-12-10 00:00:00

Dirty Profits II

Report on Companies and Financial Institutions Benefiting from Violations of Human Rights
2013-12-10 00:00:00 | Facing Finance
our publications
2013-12-04 00:00:00

BankTrack on the Thun Group Paper on Banks and Human Rights

2013-12-04 00:00:00 | BankTrack
bank documents
2013-11-04 00:00:00

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Discussion Paper for Banks on Implications of Principles 16–21
2013-11-04 00:00:00 | Thun group
ngo documents
2013-11-01 00:00:00

Financing the Israeli Occupation

The Current Involvement of Israeli Banks in Israeli Settlement Activity
2013-11-01 00:00:00 | Who Profits
bank documents
2013-10-02 00:00:00

Thun Group on Human Rights

2013-10-02 00:00:00
csr policies
2012-12-31 00:00:00

Statement on Human Rights

2012-12-31 00:00:00 | BNP Paribas
ngo documents
2012-12-19 00:00:00

Dirty Profits

Report on Companies and Financial Institutions Benefiting from Violations of Human Rights
2012-12-19 00:00:00 | Facing Finance
our publications
2012-12-10 00:00:00

Financing Human Rights Abuse: The Role of Public and Private Financial Institutions

2012-12-10 00:00:00 | BankTrack, ECA Watch, CIEL (Center for International and Environmental Law).
bank documents
2012-12-06 00:00:00

Thun Group of Banks Response to a question at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, December 2012

2012-12-06 00:00:00 | Thun Group
ngo documents
2012-11-29 00:00:00

How to use the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in company research and advocacy

A guide for civil society organisations
2012-11-29 00:00:00 | SOMO, CEDHA and Cividep India
csr policies
2012-10-30 00:00:00

Human rights commitments

2012-10-30 00:00:00 | Nordea
bank documents
2012-10-29 00:00:00

Statement by the Thun Group of banks on the "Guiding principles for the implementation of the United Nations 'protect, respect and remedy' framework" on human rights

2012-10-29 00:00:00 | Thun Group
csr policies
2012-10-29 00:00:00

Human Rights Statement

2012-10-29 00:00:00 | Goldman Sachs
correspondence
2012-03-26 00:00:00

Letter from BankTrack to UN working group on Business and Human rights on human rights responsibilities of banks

2012-03-26 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2011-12-19 00:00:00

Proposed changes to the Draft Guiding Principles

2011-12-19 00:00:00 | Berne Declaration and BankTrack
ngo documents
2011-11-24 00:00:00

The Corporate Responsibility to respect human rights

An Interpretive Guide
2011-11-24 00:00:00 | United Nations Human Rights
other documents
2011-11-20 00:00:00

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights

An interpretive guide
2011-11-20 00:00:00 | United Nations Human Rights
ngo documents
2011-07-04 00:00:00

One step forward, two steps back

2011-07-04 00:00:00 | Berne Declaration
csr policies
2011-05-03 00:00:00

Human rights

2011-05-03 00:00:00 | JPMorgan Chase
ngo documents
2011-04-14 00:00:00

A Risky Business: Tar Sands, Indigenous Rights and RBS

2011-04-14 00:00:00 | Canadian Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign and UK Tar Sands Network
other documents
2011-03-21 00:00:00

"Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights"

Implementing the United Nations 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework
2011-03-21 00:00:00 | John Ruggie
ngo documents
2011-03-03 00:00:00

joint NGO statement to IFC on human rights language Performance Standards

2011-03-03 00:00:00 | Amnesty International
other documents
2011-02-22 00:00:00

UK NATIONAL CONTACT POINT – REVISED FINAL STATEMENT ON SPECIFIC INSTANCE: BTC PIPELINE

2011-02-22 00:00:00 | UK OECD National Contact Point
other documents
2010-11-08 00:00:00

On the Horizon - Issue 18

2010-11-08 00:00:00 | Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
correspondence
2010-10-25 00:00:00

BankTrack letter to Professor John Ruggie

2010-10-25 00:00:00 | BankTrack & Berne Declaration
ngo documents
2010-10-18 00:00:00

Financing the Isaeli Occupation

2010-10-18 00:00:00 | Who Profits
our publications
2010-07-15 00:00:00

The human rights responsibilities of banks

2010-07-15 00:00:00 | BankTrack
other documents
2010-06-24 00:00:00

How to do business with respect to Human Rights

2010-06-24 00:00:00 | Global Compact Network Netherlands
ngo documents
2010-04-21 00:00:00

A roadmap for integrating human rights into the world bank group

2010-04-21 00:00:00 | World Resources Institute
ngo documents
2010-04-15 00:00:00

Without Map or Compass, Credit Suisse, UBS and Human Rights

2010-04-15 00:00:00 | Berne Declaration
other documents
2010-04-09 00:00:00

Business and Human Rights: Further steps toward the operationalization of the “protect, respect and remedy” framework

2010-04-09 00:00:00 | Dr John Ruggie
our publications
2009-10-01 00:00:00

Banking it right

The “protect, respect and remedy“ framework applied to bank operations
2009-10-01 00:00:00 | Andreas Missbach, Berne Declaration/ BankTrack
csr policies
2008-11-28 00:00:00

Declaration the consideration of human rights in business operations

2008-11-28 00:00:00 | KfW Group
other documents
2008-08-07 00:00:00

Appendix 1: Case Studies Illustrating the Human Rights Implications of Large-Scale, Internationally-Financed Projects

2008-08-07 00:00:00
other documents
2008-08-07 00:00:00

Appendix 1: Case Studies Illustrating the Human Rights Implications of Large-Scale, Internationally-Financed Projects

2008-08-07 00:00:00
our publications
2008-08-01 00:00:00

The International Finance Corporation’s performance standards and the Equator Principles: Respecting Human Rights and remedying violations?

2008-08-01 00:00:00 | BankTrack, CIEL, Oxfam, WRI, BIC
other documents
2008-06-30 00:00:00

UNEP-FI: CEO briefing to Human Rights

2008-06-30 00:00:00
ngo documents
2008-06-11 00:00:00

Ending harmful investments

2008-06-11 00:00:00 | Netwerk Vlaanderen
other documents
2008-04-18 00:00:00

Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights

2008-04-18 00:00:00 | John Ruggie/UN
our publications
2007-12-17 00:00:00

Corporate duty to respect: The relevance of private finance

2007-12-17 00:00:00 | BankTrack
our publications
2007-11-19 00:00:00

State duty to protect: The relevance of private finance

2007-11-19 00:00:00 | BankTrack
other documents
2007-09-23 00:00:00

Company commitments on trade union rights

2007-09-23 00:00:00 | UNI Finance Global Union
other documents
2007-06-30 00:00:00

Business and Human Rights - the evolving international agenda

2007-06-30 00:00:00 | John Ruggie / UN
our publications
2007-02-16 00:00:00

Human Rights Are Banking Risks

2007-02-16 00:00:00 | BankTrack
other documents
2007-02-16 00:00:00

Human Rights and Financial Sector Consultation

2007-02-16 00:00:00 | UN Special Representative on Human Rights and Business
other documents
2007-02-12 00:00:00

State Responsibilities to Regulate and Adjudicate Corporate Activities

2007-02-12 00:00:00 | Prof. John G. Ruggie / Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Law School
other documents
2007-02-09 00:00:00

Business and Human Rights: Mapping International Standards of Responsibility and Accountability for Corporate Acts

2007-02-09 00:00:00 | John Ruggie/UN
correspondence
2006-12-18 00:00:00

BankTrack letter to Dr Ruggie on banks and human rights

2006-12-18 00:00:00 | BankTrack
other documents
2006-11-30 00:00:00

Financial Sector responsibility: The State of the Art

2006-11-30 00:00:00 | Andrew Newton, Ethical Corp.
other documents
2006-09-28 00:00:00

HR: Security of People and Assets

2006-09-28 00:00:00
other documents
2006-09-28 00:00:00

Human Rights Impact Assessment

2006-09-28 00:00:00
other documents
2006-09-28 00:00:00

Human Rights Policies and Management Practices of Fortune Global 500 firms

2006-09-28 00:00:00 | John Ruggie/UN
ngo documents
2006-09-19 00:00:00

Conflict and project lending

2006-09-19 00:00:00 | International alert
ngo documents
2006-09-14 00:00:00

Where do you draw the line?

2006-09-14 00:00:00 | Netwerk vlaanderen
ngo documents
2006-07-05 00:00:00

Briefing on indigenous peoples and private sector project financing (French version)

2006-07-05 00:00:00 | Forest Peoples Programme
ngo documents
2006-07-04 00:00:00

Solidly Swiss? Credit Suisse, UBS and the global oil, mining and gas industry

2006-07-04 00:00:00 | Berne Declaration
ngo documents
2006-05-30 00:00:00

Briefing on Indigenous Peoples and Private sector project financing

2006-05-30 00:00:00 | Forest Peoples Programme
other documents
2006-02-02 00:00:00

Banks, Business and Human Rights

2006-02-02 00:00:00
other documents
2005-03-01 00:00:00

Transnational corporations and human rights: The business implications

2005-03-01 00:00:00 | Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
other documents
2005-02-15 00:00:00

UN report on human rights and business

2005-02-15 00:00:00 | UN High Commissioner on Human rights
ngo documents
2004-12-01 00:00:00

The UN human rights norms for business: towards legal accountability

2004-12-01 00:00:00 | Amnesty International
other documents
2004-09-01 00:00:00

Banking on human rights

2004-09-01 00:00:00 | ISIS Asset management and KPMG
ngo documents
2004-07-01 00:00:00

Risks, responsibility and human rights

2004-07-01 00:00:00 | Halifax Initiative

Media

Ilisu action against Societe Generale in Paris

Video links

http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/vara/tv/zembla/20070704-clusterbomb_feeling-hi.asf

Links

Bank On Human Rights

Bank on Human Rights is a global coalition of social movements, civil society organizations, and grassroots groups working to ensure that all development finance institutions require respect for human rights in the operations they finance.
http://bankonhumanrights.org/

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

The world’s leading independent resource on business and human rights.
http://www.business-humanrights.org/

Forest Defender

A tool for understanding your rights. ForestDefender is a legal database that provides a snapshot of international human rights and obligations relevant to forest governance.
http://forestdefender.org/

Human Rights and Business Country Guide

Free online resource from the Danish Institute for Human Rights, providing country specific guidance on the potential human rights impacts of business. Covers 10 countries, expanding to 40 countries in 2016.
http://hrbcountryguide.org/

Righting Finance

An initiative to develop and advocate a human rights approach to financial regulation at national and global levels.
http://www.rightingfinance.org/
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