Briefing papers
Briefings to UK and European policy makers
Joint civil society response to UK Government’s Modern Slavery Statement
Monday, April 20th, 2020This briefing was prepared by CORE and 9 other NGOs as a joint response to the UK Government’s release of the ‘Modern Slavery Statement’ on the 26th of March 2020. The briefing highlights the commendable elements of the statement and lays out our recommendations for the Government to build on its approach.
Briefing for Westminster Hall Debate on the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act
Tuesday, June 18th, 2019This briefing was prepared by CORE with 13 of our partner organisations for the Westminster Hall debate on the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act, 19 June 2019. The briefing highlights our priorities with regard to improving the effectiveness of section 54 (transparency in supply chains) and urges the Government to go further and introduce human rights due diligence legislation.
Briefing for the Lords Debate on Executive Pay Ratio Reporting
Tuesday, July 10th, 2018This briefing was prepared by CORE and Oxfam for the Lords debate on the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018. The briefing broadly welcomes the new CEO pay ratio requirements, but urges Peers to call on the Government to set out a longer-term vision for the UK corporate governance framework and review s.172 of the Companies Act 2006 as part of these more fundamental reforms.
Briefing for the General Debate on the Implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Wednesday, October 25th, 2017This briefing has been prepared for the Commons debate on the “Implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, 26 Oct. It provides an overview of the current requirements of the Transparency in Supply Chains Clause in the Act, while documenting existing challenges of corporate reporting on modern slavery and victims’ access to justice.
The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill: an opportunity to strengthen access to justice for victims
Wednesday, September 13th, 2017This briefing was prepared ahead of the Second Reading of Lord McColl’s Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill. It draws attention to the legal challenges modern slavery victims face in accessing remedy for the harms inflicted on them. In an effort to empower victims, it advocates for the introduction of specific civil wrongs of trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour in UK legislation. This can redress injustices whilst also deterring perpetrators from accruing profits from slavery induced commodities and services.
Priorities for the next government on corporate accountability, responsible business and trade
Thursday, April 20th, 2017A General Election briefing on modern slavery, corporate governance, corporate crime and trade from Amnesty International UK, Anti-Slavery International, CORE, FLEX and Traidcraft.
Criminal Finances Bill: Briefing for House of Lords Committee stage
Monday, March 27th, 2017While we welcome the Government’s call for evidence on corporate liability for economic crime, we are concerned that the current bill is missing a major opportunity to make progress in improving the legislative framework for corporate criminal liability particularly in light of anticipated forthcoming restrictions on legislative space arising from Brexit.
Criminal Finances Bill: Briefing for the House of Lords Second Reading
Friday, March 3rd, 2017This briefing for the House of Lords Second Reading is supported by the following organisations who form part of the BOND Anti-Corruption Group and the Business Integrity Network and who are all working to ensure that UK companies can be held legally accountable for economic and broader crimes, including those committed abroad: Amnesty International, CAFOD, CORE Coalition, Corruption Watch, Global Witness, ONE, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID), Tax Justice Network, The Corner House, Traidcraft, Transparency International UK.
Criminal Finances Bill: Briefing for House of Commons Report Stage
Monday, February 20th, 2017This briefing is supported by the following organisations who form part of the BOND Anti-Corruption Group and the Business Integrity Network and who are all working to ensure that UK companies can be held legally accountable for economic and broader crimes, including those committed abroad: Amnesty International, CAFOD, CORE Coalition, Corruption Watch, Global Witness, ONE, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID), Tax Justice Network, The Corner House, Traidcraft, Transparency International UK.
Briefing for House of Commons Adjournment Debate on Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
Wednesday, December 14th, 2016This briefing has been prepared for the House of Commons Adjournment Debate on Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility, 14 December 2016. It calls for companies to be required to conduct due diligence to prevent harm to people and the environment, changes to directors’ duties and corporate liability laws, making it easier to prosecute companies and directors for serious malpractice.
Briefing for House of Lords 8 Dec. debate on the case for maintaining the balance between rights and responsibilities in the corporate sector
Thursday, December 8th, 2016In 2016, the UK government published a Business and Human Rights Action Plan but the voluntary measures outlined are insufficient to deter and sanction serial corporate offending. The government should now take steps to introduce legislation to prevent and punish corporate malpractice internationally; provide access to remedy for victims who have been subject to corporate abuse; and ensure criminal sanctions for companies which commit the most serious crimes.
Briefing for second reading of Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains) Bill - 8 July 2016
Wednesday, July 6th, 2016This briefing has been prepared on behalf of a coalition of human rights, development and anti-slavery civil society organisations that campaigned for the inclusions of the supply chain reporting requirement in the Modern Slavery Act. The Bill offers an important opportunity to enhance the supply chain reporting requirement in the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Civil society letter to the Member States representatives in COHOM (Working Group on Human Rights of the Council of the EU).
Thursday, April 28th, 2016On the 20 April 2016 ECCJ, Amnesty International, CIDSE, FIDH and Friends of the Earth Europe sent a letter to the Member States representatives in COHOM (the permanent Working Group on Human Rights of the Council of the EU) emphasising the importance and urgency of a stronger political action on business and human rights.
Key Principles for the 2015 Review of the UK Government’s Business and Human Rights Action Plan
Friday, March 20th, 2015This paper sets out proposals for the revision and evaluation of the UK National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, identifying priority themes and content to be considered as part of the review.
A Conflict Minerals Regulation that Works - Coalition briefing
Thursday, February 5th, 2015Strengthening the European Commission’s proposal for a “Regulation setting up a union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas”
Modern Slavery Bill - Lords 2nd reading - 13 Nov 2014
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014This briefing has been prepared on behalf of a coalition of corporate accountability, fair trade, development and anti-slavery groups who are campaigning for effective measures on supply chain transparency to be included in the Bill. The coalition strongly supports the Government’s introduction at Report Stage of a measure to address transparency in the supply chain in respect of modern slavery. However, the Bill’s amendment must be strengthened in several areas if it is to be effective.
Coalition briefing for Modern Slavery Bill Report Stage - 3 Nov 2014
Monday, November 3rd, 2014A coalition of corporate accountability and anti-slavery groups are campaigning for effective measures on supply chain transparency to be include in the Modern Slavery Bill. This briefing supports, in principle, the Government’s proposed measure to address transparency in supply chains. However, the current amendment needs to set out clear principles for what companies need to report.
Robust EU legislation on responsible mineral sourcing
Tuesday, September 30th, 2014Recommendations to strengthen the European Commission’s proposal for a ‘regulation setting up a Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict affected and high-risk areas’
Doing Business Better - CORE's manifesto
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014The UK has taken some significant steps to address irresponsible corporate behaviour and to meet the growing expectations of ethical business standards from consumers and investors. Political will is needed now to translate policy commitments into practical changes. CORE’s manifesto, Doing Business Better, lays out its expectations from government ahead of the 2015 elections.
Statement re. UK government position on EU Council negotiations on proposal for disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups - 2013/0110(COD)
Wednesday, February 5th, 2014The EU Council is currently negotiating this important proposal on how the largest companies report. We consider this reform a vital step towards improving corporate accountability and transparency, and implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Good Business? Analysis of the UK Government Action Plan on Business & Human Rights
Monday, December 2nd, 2013The UK broke new ground in becoming the first State to produce a National Action Plan for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In this new analysis, CORE identifies the positive proposals, the missing elements and some of the policies that are threatening to undermine the government’s stated commitment to business and human rights.
Legal Aid briefing: Lords’ report stage
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012CORE called for amendments to be made to this Bill to ensure that it would not undermine the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Despite this it was passed unchanged, giving irresponsible multinational corporations more power to violate the rights of poor and vulnerable communities in developing countries with impunity.
Legal Aid briefing: Lords’ third reading
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill reached its 3rd reading in the House of Lords in April 2011. CORE called for the Bill to be amended to safeguard access to justice for victims of corporate human rights abuses.