News from ECCR
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November 2011, London Both the global economic downturn and the pending London Olympic year bring issues around the exploitation of vulnerable workers into sharp focus in the UK. The wide-ranging nature of this exploitation and the opportunities for large companies to do more to prevent it were discussed by five expert speakers in front of an audience of about 130 people at ECCR's open debate 2011 at Friends House. Panellists Dr Stella Creasy MP, Catherine Howarth of FairPensions, D.I. Kevin Hyland of the Metropolitan Police Trafficking and Prostitution Unit, Dr Sasha Rakoff of OBJECT, and Bill Seddon of the Church Investors Group and Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church addressed a wide range of issues affecting vulnerable workers across many of the key Olympic sectors, leading to lively questions and debate from the floor. Event report (pdf)
News release (pdf) Event flyer (pdf) ECCR has collaborated with US partner ICCR on engaging UK based companies, including Sainsbury, on human trafficking with regard to a June 2011 investor statement on human trafficking which ECCR co-signed.
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November 2011, Belfast This event, supported by ECCR, provided an opportunity for participants to learn how the savings and financial reserves of churches and civil society organisations can make a contribution to financing the transition towards a lower carbon economy, poverty alleviation and socially useful work, and to hear from with some of the financial services providers who address these issues. Event report (pdf)
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October 2011 Recognizing the broad influence of business on the global supply chain, an investor coalition representing over 90 organizations worldwide - led by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and including ECCR - issued a statement in June 2011 asking 27 companies to take a leadership role in abolishing human trafficking and slavery. This statement was open for new signatories during National Ethical Investment Week in the UK (16-22 October). For more information contact Lauren Compere.
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August 2011
The National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND) has welcomed a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report highlighting the extraordinary scale of oil spills in the Ogoni area of the Niger Delta. NACGOND was formed by partner organisations of church-based research and advocacy group the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR). News release (pdf)
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July 2011
The ever growing News International hacking scandal highlights two key lessons for all those who care about business ethics and corporate responsibility. First, News Corporation’s falling share price emphasises the link between good corporate governance and shareholder value. Second, the case reveals how far many multinational companies have to go before they meet minimum international standards of business and human rights. Read more (pdf)
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July 2011, London
Co-organised by Anti-Slavery International, ECCR and the Institute for Human Rights & Business, the meeting shared experience of regulation in different sectors and asked what lessons the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) can offer policymakers. Chair: Rt Rev. Lord Harries; panel speakers: Ian Livsey, GLA; Krisnah Poinasamy, Oxfam UK; Will Stephens, Tesco. ECCR supports calls for better regulation of worker protection
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June 2011 Over 3,000 corporations now engage in public sustainability reporting. Who establishes the criteria to be measured and over what length of time? How do we define sustainability? A new Social Sustainability Resource Guide from ECCR’s US partner the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) provides a roadmap that shifts the focal point from corporate to community, the indicators from outputs to outcomes, and the horizon from short to long term. ICCR offers this guide to stimulate further development of social impact measurements to create sustainable change. Download ICCR’s guide (pdf)
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June 2011 ECCR’s Chair, Lee Coates, has been made OBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours. On hearing of the award ‘for services to ethical business and finance’, Lee said: ‘I am proud of ECCR’s work in the area of business ethics, drawing global attention to the plight of disadvantaged communities impacted by big business. The support I have received as ECCR’s Chair has been exceptional.’ Lord Harries of Pentregarth, ECCR’s Patron, commented: ‘I am so glad that the issue of corporate responsibility is being recognised in this way.’
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ECCR was one of 46 faith-based and civil society organisations from around the world calling for a robust UN mechanism to follow up on the work of Prof. John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business and human rights, whose mandate has now ended. The statement was filed with the UN Human Rights Council on 16 May. Read more (pdf)
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