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Launch of Regional Briefing - Business & Human Rights in Anglophone Africa

Launch of Regional Briefing - Business & Human Rights in Anglophone Africa

Published 02-10-11

Submitted by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Today the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is launching its first regional briefing on "Business & human rights in Anglophone Africa - a round-up of recent developments."

Download the nine-page briefing here.

The briefing provides a reality-based snapshot of business' human rights impacts in the region. It highlights concerns raised by civil society, company responses to allegations of misconduct, positive initiatives by business, and developments in law, policy and lawsuits. Subjects in the briefing range from efforts in new oil economies such as Ghana and Uganda to avoid the "resource curse," to a landmark ruling by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights regarding tourism and indigenous people in Kenya.

Abiola Okpechi, the Centre's Anglophone Africa Researcher based in South Africa, said:

    "Every day we update our website with reports about companies and human rights in Africa, from sources ranging from local NGOs to international media. This short briefing steps back to look at key developments and trends. It also casts an eye forward to flag likely issues on the horizon, such as: Wal-Mart's probable entry into South Africa; increasing uranium mining in Namibia; and the resource-related implications of the referendum in South Sudan."

She added:

    "On my recent research missions to Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia I have been impressed by the work that civil society groups are doing on business & human rights. I have found that some companies still do not understand their human rights responsibilities; others are taking steps to assess and manage their impacts on human rights. These local voices are reflected in the issues we draw attention to in this briefing."

Companies mentioned in this briefing:

AccorElf/TotalNewmont
Agip/EniEricssonNH Hotels
Anglo AmericanExxonMobilNNPC
AngloGold AshantiFirestoneOlaniwun Ajayi LP
ArmstrongsFordRapaport Diamond Trading Network
Barrick GoldGeneral MotorsRed Back Mining
Best WesternHessRheinmetall
Canadile MinersHiltonSABMiller
CarlsonHyattSalini Costruttori
CartierIBMShell
ChevronIntercontinentalStarwood
Collum MineLahmeyerVanco Energy
Core MiningMarathonWal-Mart
DaimlerMarks & SpencerWilderness Safaris
De BeersMbada DiamondsZain
DevonMicrosoftZimbabwe Mining Development Corp.
DLHMTN
Edward Nathan SonnenbergsNew Reclamation


To discuss the briefing, please contact Abiola Okpechi, Anglophone Africa Researcher & Representative, okpechi@business-humanrights.org, or Greg Regaignon, Head of Research, regaignon@business-humanrights.org.



Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tracks the human rights impacts (positive & negative) of 5000 companies in over 180 countries. The site is updated hourly and receives 1.5 million hits per month.

Mary Robinson chairs its 80-member International Advisory Network. Its 22 Academic Partners include leading institutes in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

The Centre has regional researchers based in five regions:

  • Mayling Chan, East Asia Researcher, based in Hong Kong
  • Aliou Diouf, Francophone Africa Researcher, based in Senegal
  • Harpreet Kaur, South Asia Researcher, based in India
  • Abiola Okpechi, Anglophone Africa Researcher, based in South Africa
  • Ella Skybenko, Eastern Europe/Central Asia Researcher, based in Ukraine

We plan to recruit researchers based in Latin America and the Middle East later this year.

For further information about the Resource Centre, see the "About us" section of the website.

SUPPORT THE RESOURCE CENTRE: Please consider donating to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, to enable us to continue our work in Anglophone Africa and internationally, and to offer our website, special portals, Weekly Updates and regional briefings to a global audience without any charge. As we do not accept donations from companies or company foundations, donations from individuals and foundations are essential for our work to continue.

Donate online: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Aboutus/Makeadonation

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a non-profit organization. In the United States we are a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In England & Wales we are a Registered Charity, number 1096664.

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Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

The Resource Centre is an independent non-profit that promotes greater awareness and informed debate about human rights issues relating to business. Our website is updated hourly with news and reports about companies’ social and environmental impacts worldwide, including alleged abuses, positive steps, and company responses to concerns raised about their conduct. The site has sections on over 4000 companies. It also includes special resources such as all materials issued by the UN Special Representative on business & human rights; a list of companies with human rights policies; profiles of lawsuits against companies. Mary Robinson is Chair of our International Advisory Network. Visit the website for further details and to sign up for free Weekly Updates. See website for contact details of our New York office and team members in Hong Kong, India, South Africa, UK, Ukraine, USA

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