The European Union has initiated the path towards a mandatory due diligence law for companies on human rights and environmental issues, announced by Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders in 2020. The European Commission has launched an open public consultation until February 8 to gather data and opinions from stakeholders, including any individual or group affected by companies’ operations in the EU and in their global value chains (local communities, employees, consumers, etc.).
For its part, the European Parliament’s Justice Committee yesterday adopted a report requesting the European Commission to deliver a proposal for a due diligence law. This report, negotiated by the main parliamentary groups, will be voted by the European Parliament in plenary session at the beginning of March. The EU-LAT Network urges MEPs to vote in favor of this report, a first step towards such a law that should be more robust, coherent and ambitious.
Latin America is one of the regions most impacted by the negative effects of extractive companies and with the highest rates of attacks on defenders, especially in contexts of environmental defense against industries. Companies currently operate with impunity, often displacing indigenous and rural communities, abusing trade union rights and destroying the planet.
The EU-LAT Network has participated in the public consultation, through the European NGOs campaign https://www.enforcinghumanrights-duediligence.eu/ to call on the EU to propose an ambitious law to hold companies accountable for their negative impacts, obliging them to respect human rights and the environment in their own operations, subsidiaries and global value chain, including suppliers and subcontractors.
To participate in the EU consultation click here Consultation EU
To read the recommendations to the EU click here Recommendations EU
