Business & human rights: Weekly Update - December 10, 2008

From the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:
Weekly Update: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre - 10 Dec 2008

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On the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we would like to recall this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, who was instrumental in drafting the Declaration:

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere."

* Initiatives on the 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):

- CEO statement in support of human rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/230940

- "Human Rights Translated": Practical guide for business by Castan Centre, IBLF, OHCHR, UN Global Compact
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/148785

- Amnesty Intl. Netherlands launches e-learning tool for business
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/979754

- Statement by Mary Robinson & Sir Mark Moody-Stuart
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/895362

- Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch, calls for mandatory human rights regulations for companies
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/254361

- Intl. Chamber of Commerce hails 60th anniversary of UDHR
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/498662

- Global Reporting Initiative & others call for better corporate reporting on human rights
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/203872

- Over 230 companies worldwide have a human rights policy statement: Joint announcement by Mary Robinson/Realizing Rights, and Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/599606

- Dutch pension fund APG Investments supports appeal for companies to adopt human rights policies
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/249772

* Transcript: John Ruggie speaking at Carnegie Council, New York, 28 Oct
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/864565

* Audio & images: "Human rights and business: South Africa and beyond", London, 2 Dec
- Jody Kollapen, Chair of So. African Human Rights Commission
- regional updates by Resource Centre's researchers
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/2Dec2008event

* Blackwater guards indicted in USA for Sep 2007 Baghdad shootings
- immunity for security contractors to end in Iraq
- summary profile of Blackwater lawsuits
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/214732

* Iraq: KBR's Kuwaiti subcontractor accused of confining migrant workers in windowless warehouses - companies respond
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/346743

* Bahrain: New centre to receive & handle workers' complaints
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/462611

* China: Guangdong factories squeezed as buyers push for improved labour rights but lower prices (Bloomberg)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/308672

* "Wal-Mart: A bully benefactor" (Fortune)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/948732

* Briefing: "Private Sector Accountability in Combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/133893

* USA: Wal-Mart worker trampled to death by stampeding sales shoppers
- lawsuit filed against Wal-Mart, mall, private security firm
- Time magazine article: "How to prevent a crowd crush"
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/785914

* USA: Subway agrees to pay migrant tomato pickers penny more per pound - signs deal with Coalition of Immokalee Workers
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/804623

* Allegations of child labour, health & safety abuses in surgical instruments produced in Pakistan and purchased by UK hospitals
- UK Natl. Health Service drafts guidelines on ethical purchasing
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/366648

* Indonesia: Lapindo Brantas says settlement reached with mud volcano victims
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/902543

* "Ethical leaders of 2008" (Ethical Corporation) include Barack Obama, Bill Gates, John Ruggie, heads of Confederation of British Industry, UN Principles for Responsible Investment, Global Witness
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/171503

* Job vacancy: Senior Programme Officer, Economy & Peacebuilding, Intl. Alert (London, deadline 19 Dec)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/603343

* Job vacancy: Assessment & Training Manager, UN Principles for Responsible Investment (London)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/279993

* Español: Líderes empresariales expresan su apoyo a los derechos humanos en el 60avo. aniversario de la Declaración Universal
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/420977

* Español: Argentina: Defensor del Pueblo se pronuncia contra terraplén que inunda casas - dice que empresa Hacienda San Eugenio y provincia ignoran sentencia del Tribunal Superior
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/140924

* Español: Costa Rica: Asesor ambiental del presidente recomienda prohibir la minería a cielo abierto
- Sala Constitucional estudia proyecto "Las Crucitas" de Industrias Infinito
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/256696

* Español: Honduras: ONG gana 98 casos de violación de derechos laborales - mayoría sobre guardias de seguridad
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/662477

* Español: Guatemala: Fotoreportaje sobre afectaciones de la mina Marlin (de Goldcorp) sobre la población
- Sitio web de la empresa: "Relaciones comunitarias y desarrollo en Guatemala" (en inglés)
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/504449

* Español: Panamá: Gobierno aprueba estudio de impacto ambiental de Petaquilla Gold después de haberla sancionado por daños al ecosistema y desmejoramiento de la calidad de las aguas - ONG critica decisión
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/207814

* Español: Brasil: 6 empresas, incluyendo Petrobras, Aracruz y Copel, excluidas del BOVESPA sostenible
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/836692

* Español: Empleados de Roche marchan a favor de niños desfavorecidos - empresa duplicará la cifra recaudada
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/135787

* Español: Colombia: Después del escándalo de las pirámides, bancos se unen a iniciativa de microcréditos para pobres
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/878698

* Français : Maroc : Citi Maghreb récompense 12 microentrepreneurs luttant contre la pauvreté
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/895223

* Français : Inculpation aux États-Unis de cinq agents de Blackwater impliqués dans la mort de 17 irakiens
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/124915

* Français : Indonésie : Lapindo s'engage à verser une compensation pour les victimes d'un volcan de boue
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/818775

* Français : Madagascar : Des entreprises s'unissent pour lutter contre le VIH/SIDA
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/929999

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