Business & human rights weekly update - July 29, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 30 July 2008

CLICK THIS LINK FOR ALL TOP STORIES added past 7 days / Principales noticias / Articles de premier plan:
- also available: our profile of lawsuit against Chevron
- Firestone response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/833176

* UN Foundation & Vodafone Foundation lead initiative to improve health in poor countries through access to data
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/496153

* China Labor Watch report alleges abuses at Hantai Shoe, supplier to Wal-Mart
- Wal-Mart response
- we are inviting Hantai Shoe to respond
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/852829
* World Bank tribunal finds Tanzania at fault in ending contract with Biwater over water access & pricing, but awards company no damages
- also provided: Biwater response, full text of tribunal's opinions
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/861816

* Mexico: US security firm Risks Incorporated in torture training sessions with police
- includes videos of the sessions
- we invited the firm to respond, but have not received a response
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/581105

* Report by UK Foreign Affairs Committee says govt. should introduce "strict regulation on private security companies"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/348550

* Microfinance firms agree to publish annual interest rates, in move to help poor borrowers amid sector's commercialization
- Muhammad Yunus criticises for-profit microfinance
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/981856

* Promoting women's reproductive health increases factory productivity, "HERproject" concludes
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/641257

* US Govt. bans all Burmese gem imports, encourages Chevron to divest
- Human Rights Watch says new law is "a major step"
- Leber Jeweler calls for all US jewellers to stop selling Burmese gemstones
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/554513

* Guangdong province, China: Contracts re-negotiated by companies in attempt to evade new labour law may be invalidated
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/614475

* Singapore: Women's rights group report finds extensive workplace sexual harassment - details best practices, reviews legal remedies
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/703196

* "Subsidizing Sweatshops" report (further to our 9, 16 & 23 July Updates)
- City of Los Angeles statement regarding Lion Apparel
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/SweatshopsJul2008

* Español: Ecuador: Denuncian amenazas de muerte recibidas por activista crítica de concesiones mineras
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/249727

* Español: México: Videos revelan que empresa de seguridad de EE.UU. entrenó a policías en métodos de tortura
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/112486

* Español: Colombia: Fueron "condenadas" 30 multinacionales por el Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos por supuestos abusos de derechos humanos
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/327690

* Español: México: Réplica de ProDESC a la respuesta de Minefinders sobre impactos de Minera Dolores en Chihuahua - en continuación a nuestra Actualización del 9 de julio (en inglés)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/598980

* Español: El Salvador: Más de mil personas marchan contra proyecto de explotación minera de Pacific Rim
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/316076

* Français : Madagascar : La Banque Mondiale réclame plus de transparence dans le secteur minier
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/880476

* Français : Les membres de l'Association des entreprises pour la réduction de l'effet de serre affiche une baisse d'émissions de 25% par rapport à 1990
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/387151

ARCHIVE of past Weekly Updates / ARCHIVO de actualizaciones pasadas / ARCHIVE des Actualités hebdomadaires précédentes:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Aboutus/WeeklyUpdatesarchive