Firms Failing on HRDD Following Russian Invasion of Ukraine

A report by the Business and Humans Rights Resource Centre has suggested major companies are not doing enough due diligence into human rights issues arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the report acknowledges many companies have taken “unprecedented action” in response to the invasion, it also says “only a small number of companies appear to be taking their obligations under international human rights law and humanitarian law seriously”. The importance of human rights due diligence (HRDD) is highlighted by the report using the example of French cement company Lafarge, which has been charged with complicity in international crimes while continuing to operate during Syria’s civil war. Only 34 of the 330 companies contacted for the report responded fully or partially to survey questions, and the report states, “While some companies did mention the human rights due diligence processes they have in place… they did not mention any concrete measures taken to enhance existing human rights due diligence in response to the Russian invasion”.

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