With partners and allies worldwide, we seek to put human rights at the heart of business to deliver a just economy, climate justice, and end abuse.
Business and Human Rights Centre
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Companies operating in states engaged in wars of aggression must move beyond vague commitments and adopt clear, time-bound strategies for responsible disengagement.
Our new report outlines a framework for corporate disengagement from Russia amid the ongoing war against Ukraine. Read in full below 🔽
Explore the data here: www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/b... 9/9
Respecting the rights of defenders is not only a human rights imperative, but essential to responsible business, effective due diligence, and long-term social and economic stability. 8/9
People speaking out against corporate risks and harms are our early warning systems: they expose risks before they become crises, defend ecosystems before they collapse, and challenge injustices before they become entrenched. This is vital information for company and investor risk management. 7/9
Beyond the data, the research highlights a deeper structural shift:
The growing convergence between corporate lobbying, securitisation, and the use of digital technologies to undermine democracy and monitor dissent is increasing risks for defenders worldwide. 6/9
The mining, fossil fuels, and agribusiness sectors – leading drivers of deforestation - were connected to the highest number of attacks. 5/9
Judicial harassment was the most common tactic – including arrests, detentions, criminalisation and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Lethal violence persists, with 53 defenders raising concerns about business killed. 4/9
People safeguarding our planet were among those most at risk. An overwhelming majority of attacks (75%) targeted climate, land and environmental defenders. Despite making up just 6% of the global population, Indigenous Peoples experienced 30% of attacks. 3/9
With more than two attacks on average per day, these are not a series of isolated incidents – they are part of a global pattern of retaliation against people exercising their freedom of expression and advocating for rights-respecting economies and a healthy planet. 2/9
Our new global analysis reveals that in 2025 there were nearly 800 attacks against defenders raising concerns about business-related harms. 1/9
Explore here ▶️ www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/b...
