On the government committing to introducing new mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, Lucy Brill - CAFOD's Private Sector, Public Policy Lead - says:
"Having heard from communities in Peru and Colombia whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by British mining companies, CAFOD welcomes this important step towards holding irresponsible businesses to account.
"We are concerned, however, that environmental due diligence is excluded, since we know that when communities report environmental damage linked to business activities they often face intimidation and violence. CAFOD is clear that human rights and environmental harms linked to business are integrally linked and are thus most effectively – and efficiently - addressed in a single piece of legislation.
"We stand ready to work with the government to support the introduction of effective, timely legislation that seeks to ensure that British businesses respect human rights and protect the environment in all their operations around the world."
For the government’s announcement, see Jonathan Reynolds' statement.
This is an important step forward, and a great result for the CAFOD supporters and other campaigners who came to London two weeks ago.
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Rosalind Mayfield, CAFOD Media Lead
Melissa Nethersole, CAFOD Media Officer
CAFOD’s out-of-hours media line
CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas Internationalis, working with communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America to fight poverty and injustice, including those worst hit by climate change. The agency works with people in need, regardless of race, gender, religion or nationality.
CAFOD is funded mainly by voluntary donations from people in the Catholic community of England and Wales. We also receive funding from fellow Catholic charities and development agencies, the DEC, trusts and foundations, and the UK and other governments.
