The Duty of Care Act: A Historic Victory Thanks to Pressure from Below
European Parliament wants to curb exploitation with new duty of care law. An important and historic step forward for human rights!
13 June 2023
2 minutes
Op June 1 An important milestone has been reached in the field of human rights and responsible business conduct. The European Parliament has voted in favour of a new duty of care legislation which requires EU companies to prevent potential negative impacts on human rights, climate and the environment in their global value chains. This is a major step forward and a victory for human rights activists worldwide. Members of 11.11.11 have made a crucial contribution to the creation of this law. Together with other organizations, we have been uniting for several years in a broad coalition that stands up for human rights within companies. This has reached a high point since 2022 with a joint the countryside from midfield. With success!
While this is an important step forward, we must recognize that there is still room for improvement. Full liability of companies has not yet been put on the table and victims still have to bear the burden of proof themselves when they go to court. Furthermore, the financial sector is given preferential treatment over other sectors, despite its great influence. It is clear that this proposal does not go far enough, but the tone has been set.
The European Parliament has a clear signal issued to the European Commission and the Member States that the ambition for a duty of care legislation must be increased. The EU institutions will negotiate the final text in the coming months, and we must ensure that there are no loopholes. Companies must be held accountable for the damage they cause to people and the planet.
The approval of this legislation is due to the pressure from belowHuman rights activists, our members and many other civil society organisations have worked hard for this change. Strength in Numbers had never been put into practice so powerfully.
It is a victory for all those who believe in fairness and responsibility. We must continue to strive for a world in which economic activities respect the dignity of people and care for nature. In the upcoming negotiations between Parliament, the Commission and the Member States, we must ensure that the text of the legislation is further improved and implemented.
