Businesses operating in the UK, including those in the financial sector, can have significant impacts on human rights and the environment through their own operations, subsidiaries, investments and global value chains. Yet for people and communities affected by corporate abuses, securing accountability and meaningful access to justice can be extremely difficult.

Complex corporate structures, significant power imbalances and gaps in regulation can make it difficult to establish responsibility and obtain effective remedies. While Germany, France and the EU have taken steps towards stronger corporate due diligence and accountability requirements, the UK continues to consider its options without yet introducing comprehensive legislation.

In this session, Luise Schroter, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer at the Corporate Justice Coalition (CJC), will explore the case for stronger corporate accountability in the UK. The CJC is the UK’s long-standing civil society network for corporate accountability, bringing together 78 partner organisations, law firms and experts. Luise specialises in access to justice for victims and effective regulation to ensure businesses stop causing and contributing to human rights abuses and environmental destruction across their operations and value chains.

Luise will introduce the proposed Business, Human Rights and Environment Act, explaining how it could strengthen corporate accountability and improve access to justice for people affected by human rights and environmental abuses. She will also discuss current opportunities to press the UK Government to take action, including the importance of ensuring that the financial sector is included in future legislation.

The session will conclude with an invitation to join the Mass Lobby at Westminster on 21st October, bringing together campaigners, civil society organisations and others calling for stronger corporate accountability in the UK. Luise will explain how attendees can support the campaign and get involved in this important opportunity to press for legislative change.

Click here to find out more about the Mass Lobby on 21st October.