Löning – Human Rights & Responsible Business GmbH

🎉Introducing our new team member Nika Urbach, who has joined Team Löning as an associate consultant.   With an interdisciplinary background spanning economics, politics, and law, Nika has experience in analysing human rights policies from a comprehensive perspective, with a focus on the responsibilities and regulations of transnational corporations within international investment law, climate change law, and green finance.   Before joining Löning, Nika worked for the Environmental Policy Clinic at SOAS and the Environmental Law Foundation, where she assessed the advancement of local climate policies by diverse stakeholders in the UK. She also engaged in international climate negotiations (COPs) with the German youth delegation and worked with the German Foreign Ministry on foreign climate policy, alongside contributing to various climate justice advocacy groups.   As an associate consultant at Löning, Nika brings insights to the company from various international legal spheres regulating the green transition. She contributes to client projects, particularly those at the intersection of human rights and environmental due diligence to address the impacts of business conduct in a holistic manner.   Find out more about Nika and our other team members here: https://loening.org/#team #TeamLoening

🌍Top 3️⃣ learning on #CorporateSustainabilityDueDiligence: environmental due diligence is interconnected with social sustainability. With the United Nations resolution recognising a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right, and the recent landmark ruling of the European Court of Human Rights formally recognising the interconnectedness of #ClimateChange and #HumanRights, it's clearer than ever that environmental, social, and governance (#ESG) factors are interdependent and require holistic approaches. 💡Companies with a strong environmental focus gain an advantage! They can leverage their expertise to bolster social governance, accelerating progress in corporate human rights governance and garnering wider support from teams dedicated to environmental initiatives. Explore more about the top 5 lessons learned in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/dPD3BhEt #BizHumanRights #SustainabilityTransformation

🗞️Have you read this month's editorial written by our head of consulting, Alice Homuth? While Alice reflects on how corporate responsibility has evolved over the past years, she draws parallels to her own journey. From there, she advocates for strong Human Rights Due Diligence (#HRDD) practices, highlighting the shift from voluntary codes of conduct to binding legal requirements. Her insights underline the necessity for companies to proactively manage their social and environmental impacts, not merely to adhere to existing regulations, but also to anticipate and adapt to forthcoming directives such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD). Read the full editorial here: https://lnkd.in/dXJm3Bf2 Subscribe on LinkedIn or here for our monthly briefings: https://lnkd.in/dBCrZwfu

Introducing our newest webinar series: Insight Hub! 🚀 Join us on 28 May for our first session in collaboration with Ulula, where we'll delve into the critical importance of establishing #Grievance and #WhistleblowingMechanisms within your organisation and supply chain. With growing emphasis on accountability for human rights and environmental impact, such as the EU’s #Whistleblowing Directive, the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (#EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD), effective grievance mechanisms have emerged as integral components of robust #HumanRightsDueDiligence (#HRDD). Don't miss out on expert insights and practical strategies for navigating recent regulations and diverse expectations regarding reporting channels.  Register now to stay ahead of the curve: https://lnkd.in/gacxTynP

It’s #LabourDay! As we celebrate the achievements of workers worldwide, past and present, let's also reflect on the principles outlined in the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Adopted in 1998 and amended in 2022, this declaration has become a key international benchmark of labour standards in the context of globalisation. ✊ Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining empower workers to advocate for fair pay and equal treatment. ❌ The eradication of forced labour in all its forms ensures that no one is coerced into work against their will. 👧 Ending child labour is a crucial step towards securing a brighter future for our children. 🚫 Discrimination has no place in the world of work, and we strive for equal opportunities and rights for all. 🌱Ensuring a safe and healthy working environment is vital for the well-being of every worker. 🛡️ Social protection, including access to healthcare and unemployment benefits, is essential for safeguarding workers' rights. Let's dedicate ourselves to these principles, fostering #SocialJustice for all every day.

📢 Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has issued a notice stating that it will extend the deadline for submitting #LkSG reports until 31 December 2024. It will only start verifying whether companies have submitted a report and whether they comply with the reporting requirements of the Supply Chain Act from 1 January 2025. The Act requires companies covered by the Act to publish reports detailing their compliance with due diligence obligations. The reports must generally be submitted to the BAFA within four months of the end of the financial year and will remain publicly available on the company's website for a period of seven years. Non-compliance with the original due date (1 June 2024) will not be sanctioned this year, according to the BAFA's announcement.

Access the latest news on human rights that is relevant to your business by signing up for our monthly briefings. This month, our briefing features the approval of the #CSDDD by the European Parliament, #BAFA's announcement on #LkSG reports, the #RanaPlaza anniversary, landmark climate case at the European Court of Human Rights, U.S. Department of State’s country report on human rights practices, updated forced labour guidelines from the International Labour Organization, a guide for financial institutions on child labour and many more. Subscribe on LinkedIn or here: https://lnkd.in/dBCrZwfu

🎉Introducing our new team member Sarah Blank, who has joined Team Löning as a consultant. Sarah has experience in implementing human rights due diligence within multinational corporations, specifically in the textile and food retail sectors. She has worked with companies such as Hugo Boss and Lidl International and has been involved in projects related to living wages, grievance mechanisms in the textile industry, and social auditing. Before joining Löning, Sarah managed projects in the retail sector to implement the requirements of the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG). As a consultant at Löning, Sarah supports consulting projects across diverse industries and provides guidance on addressing human rights risks in companies’ operations and supply chains, in line with the requirements of legal frameworks. Find out more about Sarah and our other team members here: https://loening.org/#team #TeamLoening

🕊️ Today marks the 11th anniversary of the #RanaPlaza tragedy - a day to remember the challenges faced by garment workers worldwide. 🕊️   In the years following the massive factory collapse, some progress has been made, albeit slowly. While #Bangladesh has raised the legal minimum wage several times, concerns persist about its adequacy for sustaining livelihoods. The situation for women in the garment sector and the safety of workers in factories also remain significant areas of concern.   Lazina Akter is a young woman working in a Bangladeshi garment factory. Despite long hours and earning little, she, like millions of others, holds onto dreams of a better life. Yet, for Akter and countless others, these dreams remain out of reach. Living in a shared 10-by-10 room with few resources, their struggle for basic needs is a daily reality.   “It’s really tough to survive on this minimum wage. Given the budget situation, the inflation rate is too high.”   Akter's determination to pursue education despite her challenges is both inspiring and important. She uses her one day off per week to attend textile engineering classes at the university, demonstrating her commitment to improving her future and that of others in similar situations. Her story, along with many others, is depicted in an investigative documentary by The Fifth Estate. The full documentary is available on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/drGd8KFh   Today, 11 years after the Rana Plaza tragedy, marks a significant milestone in global supply chain accountability with the approval of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD) by the European Parliament. This directive signifies a potential breakthrough in holding high-risk industries such as garment manufacturing accountable for supply chain issues. Prioritising the safety and well-being of people, it reflects years of collaborative efforts among lawmakers, civil society organisations, businesses, academia, and trade unions.

🏭 Top 2️⃣ learning on #CorporateSustainabilityDueDiligence: beyond supply chains, a company's own operations matter. Companies often focus on human rights risks in their supply chains, but they must also consider their own operations and downstream value chain, including customers. A risk-based approach to sustainability due diligence involves examining the entire value chain to identify high-risk segments and implement effective prevention measures. Companies should not make the mistake of passing on due diligence obligations to suppliers through contractual arrangements. Despite common belief, serious human rights risks persist in Europe, including modern slavery, child labour, and safety hazards. With an estimated 130,000 modern slaves in the UK alone, it is clear that we must approach sustainability with open eyes and a commitment to real change. Discover more about the top 5 lessons learned in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/dPD3BhEt #BizHumanRights #SustainabilityTransformation