Business & human rights: Weekly Update - March 12, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 12 March 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales
noticias / Articles de premier plan:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Topstories?date=2008/03/12 

The top stories include / Las noticias incluyen / Les articles
incluent:

* Foreign investment contracts & human rights - new paper prepared for
IFC & UN Special Representative John Ruggie
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/894167

* UN working group on mercenaries concerned about insufficient
oversight & regulation of private military & security firms - full report
available
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/219096

* "Employing Private Military Companies - A Question of Responsibility"
(advisory report to Netherlands Govt.)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/120504

* Social investors ask whether Toyota can maintain its investments in
Burma "without supporting the military regime and its egregious abuses
of human rights"
- We invited Toyota to respond, but Toyota has not responded
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/410508

* Brazil: Labour Ministry finds "degrading" living conditions for
sugarcane workers at sites of biofuels firm Brazilian Renewable Energy
(Brenco)
- company apologises, says it is addressing concerns
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/656388

* "CEO Water Mandate": UN Global Compact & Pacific Institute convene
CEOs of major firms to address companies' water impacts
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/338809 

* US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation calls on Motorola to stop
providing products used in "Israel's illegal military occupation and
human rights violations"
- Motorola response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/270589

* "One Year of My Blood": Human Rights Watch report on exploitation of
migrant construction workers in Beijing
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/411878

* USA: 500 Indian workers claim they were trafficked & abused by Signal
Intl.
- Signal response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/387812 

* Nokia leads mobile phone recycling initiative in East Africa amid
concerns over toxicity of electronic waste
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/839458

* Dem. Rep. of Congo: Tin from rebel-held mine in North Kivu reaches
intl. markets - Hitachi, Microsoft, Pioneer, Samsung examine their supply
chains
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/372713

* Willis ceases to insure companies operating in Burma - Burma Campaign
UK calls on other insurers to follow
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/756642

* "Ethical diamonds" go beyond conflict-free diamonds (refers to steps
by Brilliant Earth, Igloo Diamonds)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/768093

* Extractive firms must adopt new standards for engagement with
indigenous groups, including free, prior & informed consent, says Canada's
Ethical Funds
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/599705  

* Ericsson employs mobile technology to support women's health,
education & employment
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/324486

* USA: Florida farmworkers allegedly harmed by pesticides appeal to UN
Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination - cite "environmental
racism"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/752210 

* China: "What's happened since the Labour Contract Law came into
effect?"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/923712

* Español: Grupo de Trabajo de la ONU sobre mercenarios preocupado por
abusos de derechos humanos vinculados a empresas privadas de seguridad
- reporte completo disponible
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/816519

* Español: España: Informe del Observatorio de Responsabilidad Social
Corporativa sobre el IBEX 35 dice que las empresas reportan poco sobre
derechos humanos y medio ambiente
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/216674

* Español: México: Sindicato denuncia formación de "grupos de choque"
en conflicto minero con Grupo México - empresa niega que guardias estén
armados
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/394605

* Español: El Salvador: Directores de Baterías Récord acusados por la
Fiscalía por contaminación con plomo a 175 personas
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/228360

* Español: Argentina: Primer convenio entre una provincia y la OIT para
promover el trabajo decente y erradicar el trabajo infantil
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/829405

* Español: Brasil: Rescatan a 1.500 trabajadores viviendo en
condiciones precarias en cultivos de azúcar de empresa Brenco
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/984942

* Français : La justice belge déboute les réfugiés birmans de leur
action contre Total
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/190253

* Français : Le Groupe de Travail de l'ONU sur l'utilisation des
mercenaires préoccupé par l'insuffisance de surveillance et de régulation des
sociétés militaires et de sécurité privée - rapport complet disponible
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/964366

* Français : Rép. Dém. du Congo : Etain d'une mine controllée par les
rebelles dans la zone militarisée du Nord Kivu atteint les marchés
internationaux - Hitachi, Microsoft, Pioneer, Samsung examinent leurs
chaînes d'approvisionnement
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/497204

* Français : La ministre suisse de l'Economie appelle les entreprises à
prendre leurs responsabilités en matière de droits humains
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/650763

* Français : France : Alstom condamné en appel pour avoir exposé ses
salariés à l'amiante - pour eux, c'est une "victoire au goût amer"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/197314

* Français : Nike va publier un rapport sur les conditions de travail
chez certains de ses fournisseurs en Chine - trouve que le harcèlement
sexuel & le manque de représentation sociale sont des problèmes
récurrents
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/145261