Dr Virginia Mantouvalou, Reader in Human Rights and Labour Law at UCL Faculty of Laws and Co-Director of UCL Institute of Human Rights, acted as specialist advisor for the UK Joint Committee on Human Rights for its inquiry on Business and Human Rights together with Professor Robert McCorquodale, Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL).
The Joint Committee of Human Rights has recently published its report ‘Human Rights and Business 2017: Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability.’ The report highlights the need for stronger legislation and enforcement to provide more accessible and effective routes to justice when human rights may have been breached by businesses.
Dr Virginia Mantouvalou said:
‘It is well documented that business conduct may lead to serious human rights abuses. In October 2016, for instance, the BBC programme Panorama found refugee children in Turkey making clothes for Marks and Spencer and ASOS in exploitative conditions.
There is a great deal that needs to be done to make businesses responsible and accountable. The Report of the Joint Committee of Human Rights recommends a number of steps that must be taken to have both better legislation and enforcement.’