AT COP29, the spotlight will be on climate finance. But deciding an ambitious target amount is only half of the solution. Climate finance must also be primarily grants and reach the most vulnerable countries and communities - especially Indigenous Peoples, and local communities on the frontlines.
Together with over 150 organizations, Swedwatch has signed a statement sent to the World Bank president Ajay Banga demanding him to take action against the worsening situation for Cambodian human rights defenders in the country. The organizations attacked, CENTRAL and Equitable Cambodia, are important voices for democracy and human rights in the country and part of Swedwatch’s network.
On the 14th of August Liberia launched its first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, NAP BHR. Swedwatch and its partner organization Green Advocates International (GAI) have been working to integrate women from business impacted communities in the policy-process. Both partners welcome the adoption of the NAP BHR, and call for an inclusive implementation and monitoring process.
A new Swedwatch report, based on interviews conducted at four farms in the Western Cape in South Africa by Swedwatch's project partner ILRIG, reveals pressing human rights violations, including harassment and threats, and health issues resulting from pesticide exposure – and urges state-owned wine retailers such as Systembolaget to conduct heightened due diligence.
In Highlights 2023, presented digitally this year, Swedwatch highlights some of the organization's key activities and outcomes throughout the year, aligned with the three long-term goals: responsible use of natural resources, sustainable and fair value chains, and an expanded civil space.
According to Brussels sources, Sweden may be the only country planning to vote no to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). As several countries have yet to make a final decision, Sweden's vote may be critical for the final outcome.
Liberia's new president Joseph Boakai takes office this week after a historic peaceful election in November 2023. He wants to tackle corruption and review land concessions in the mining industry. At the same time, the company Blue Carbon LLC from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for huge forest land concessions for carbon credits in Africa, including i
The 5th of September marks a historic day as the trial against two former executives of oil company Lundin Oil, today Orrön Energy, begins. The executives are accused of complicity in grave war crimes in Sudan from 1999 to 2003. Meanwhile, an OECD-led mediation process relating to the sale of major Lundin assets is ongoing in Norway, a process in which Swedwatch is taking part.
An updated version of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, adopted by OECD member countries, has been published. It has been over ten years since the last update, and the guidelines now place stronger requirements on companies on several areas, including the environment and climate. The new guidelines are welcomed by Swedwatch, which has contributed to provide input.
The responsibility of companies to uphold human rights when sponsoring big sporting events, expectations on duty bearers to safeguard the right to a healthy environment and the role of business in sustaining peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone, were among the topics researched by Swedwatch in 2022.
The Swedish engineering firm AFRY has announced its intention to withdraw from Myanmar. In a joint statement Swedwatch and four other civil society organisations welcome the move to stop doing business with the military junta but remain deeply concerned about AFRY’s delayed response and failure to realise the gravity of its dealings with the Myanmar military.
Despite promises to make financial flows consistent with a low-carbon economy, EU member states continue to provide financial support to the fossil fuel industry through export credits. It is time that the EU Commission replaces its outdated policy with new and ambitious regulation, prohibiting export support to oil and gas, says Swedwatch in a policy paper published today.
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