Supermarkets are assessing human rights abuses in their supply chains – here’s what they need to do better

Eline Achterberg Agriculture, Private sector, Rights

Eline Achterberg introduces a new Oxfam briefing that supports supermarkets to improve their “human rights impact assessments” in food supply chains – and, crucially, to take action to make real change to workers’ lives.

Why are LGBTQIA+ people in the Philippines still waiting for an anti-discrimination law?

Neal Igan Roxas Inequality, Influencing, Rights

Neal Igan Roxas looks back on his childhood, and at the daily challenge for LGBTQIA+ people of “braving spaces” in the face of hostility, to explain why it is so vital the landmark SOGIE equality bill passes into law, after a two-decade battle for anti-discrimination protection.

Defying violence and repression, women are finding new ways to connect and campaign for human rights

Anandita Ghosh Gender & Development Journal, Research, Rights

Whether resisting oppressive laws in Zimbabwe, peacebuilding in the former Yugoslavia, or speaking up for migrants on the US-Mexico border, women are leading the push for rights across the globe. Anandita Ghosh introduces the latest issue of the Oxfam-edited Gender & Development Journal on “Women Human Rights Defenders”.

Human rights defenders in the crosshairs

Caroline Brodeur Influencing, Private sector, Rights

Activists are losing their lives in defence of human rights and the environment. Caroline Brodeur introduces a new Oxfam briefing that spells out how the private sector can and must become part of the solution.

On human rights, the US must repair, reflect, and re-engage

Vicki Gass Active citizenship, Land rights

On January 16, Julio David González Arango, an Indigenous land defender involved in peaceful resistance to a mining operation in Guatemala, was shot in his home. The next day, two other defenders – Juan Eduardo Donis and Pablo Adolfo Valenzuela – received text messages saying that “they would be next.”   Tragically, this incident is all too familiar to activists and human rights …

The UK is fuelling the war in Yemen, this can’t go on

Martin Butcher Conflict, Emergencies, Fragile contexts

In July, the UK Government announced the resumption of new arms licences to Saudi Arabia for weapons to be used in the Yemen war. This is despite Oxfam colleagues in Yemen reporting an increasing number of civilians, including women and children, being killed in the conflict.  We are asking the British public to call on the UK government to respect the International Humanitarian Law …

How we are driving a just transition to a low-carbon economy

Marti Flacks Climate Change, Influencing

As we scale up investment in renewable energy, it is time for companies to adopt strong human rights practices. Eniko Horvath and Marti Flacks, from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre describe the important role of benchmarking in helping achieve a fast and fair transition to an economy that is compatible with both planetary boundaries and social justice. Climate …

Should companies act when civic freedoms are under attack?

Mauricio Lazala Active citizenship, General, Influencing, Private sector, Rights

Mauricio Lazala and Ana Zbona, from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, discuss how companies can help support civic freedoms and human rights defenders in the countries where they operate. Civic freedoms are being eroded around the world. According to CIVICUS, nearly six in ten countries are seriously restricting people’s fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression. Civil …