Human Rights and Governance

Advancing Human Rights and Governance

Global retailer Primark is pioneering responsible purchasing practices across its supply chain by adopting itemised costing methodologies, embedding cross-functional training and collaborating with suppliers. This case study explores how the retailer aligned buying, merchandising and ethical trade functions, leveraging the Ethical Trading Initiative Learning & Implementation Community to support living wages and sustainable conditions for workers worldwide.
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Women’s Entrepreneurship Day highlights a critical truth: empowering women entrepreneurs is essential for global economic growth. Despite driving innovation and community resilience, women still face systemic barriers to finance, digital access, networks, and safety. Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship is not only a moral imperative—it is a powerful economic strategy with transformative potential.
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As world leaders gather at COP, Amanda Smith, Global Head of Social at Diageo, shares insights into Diageo and CARE’s shared ambition to build resilient supply chains by tackling gender inequality and climate vulnerability together.
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The human toll of climate impacts presents specific challenges for women workers and their communities, especially in climate-vulnerable countries. Climate action and investments must not only focus on mitigation but also address the unique impacts on women and the connection between workplace and community across issues like women’s health, violence, migration, forced labor, among others. 
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The UK Government invites Business Fights Poverty members to contribute to a National Baseline Assessment of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Led by Nottingham Rights Lab, the survey and consultation explore government and business efforts to protect and respect human rights. Responses are welcome until 14 November 2025.
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The Iris Prize 2025 celebrates young environmental leaders driving change in Mongolia, Mexico, and the Philippines. With £718,000 in support since 2022, the award funds youth-led projects tackling air pollution, river restoration, and marine conservation. The initiative highlights the urgent need to back youth innovation for a sustainable future.
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At this year’s Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit, a number of sessions turned their attention to the launch of our new Five Bridges to 2045: How Business Can Build a Fairer, More Resilient Future. Eighteen experts from our global network took part in online sessions and an in-person event hosted with Barclays in New York, where representatives from Ikea, Natura, Vodafone Foundation, ABF Sugar and Fundación Paraguaya shared their perspectives on how to bring the report’s vision of embedding social impact and sustainability into core business closer to reality.
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Climate change is already harming garment workers—especially women—through extreme heat, flooding, illness, lost wages, and increased violence. RISE’s new research reveals how climate risks cascade through workers’ lives and offers actionable steps for brands and manufacturers. The call is clear: climate action in the garment sector must start with listening to workers.
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Accelerators are touted as engines of SME growth. Yet most target established businesses, leaving low-income women behind. Hand in Hand’s grassroots accelerator proves their potential: over 8,000 women have scaled businesses, boosting incomes, creating jobs, and lifting families well beyond the poverty line. Amalia Johnsson, Hand in Hand International CEO, explains why inclusive growth demands we accelerate women too.
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Listen to this podcast conversation to learn about The Power of Participatory Radio. Social Impact Pioneers – Meshack Kitungu Kawinzi and Hannah Davis share how one of the world’s oldest and most trusted communication tools, radio, is being harnessed to change lives and strengthen communities.
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Watch this Workshop with Standard Chartered to explore the demand-side ecosystem for employability in Africa, focusing on market-responsive skills, employer incentives, and decent work.
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Watch this Workshop with Barclays to explore how AI is reshaping the future of work. Hear from workforce development leaders, Per Scholas, Robin Hood,
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Watch the fireside chat with Vale to explore how the private sector can drive impactful solutions to tackle poverty. Through real-world examples and strategic insights,
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How Can We Unlock Decent Jobs for Underserved Young People in Africa? Hosted with Standard Chartered This Insights Paper explores how Africa can unlock
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How Can We Prepare the Workforce for an AI-Driven Future? Hosted with Barclays This insights paper explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the future
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Challenging stereotypes through marketing isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart business. With global ad spend nearing $2 trillion, brands have immense power to shift harmful beliefs. This article explores how inclusive communications can reduce discrimination, boost ROI, and unlock competitive advantage—if businesses act now, before the window of opportunity closes.
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Innovation thrives when knowledge is shared. In this piece, Chris Lawrence explores how open learning—rooted in humility, transparency, and collective wisdom—can unlock solutions to global challenges. Moving beyond open source technology, he argues for a business philosophy that values shared experience and human connection to foster lasting social impact and inclusive innovation.
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Social Impact Pioneers: Penelope Gregoriou & Muhammad Hassan Dajana explore how the young leaders reshape climate action & social innovation
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Claire Sibthorpe from the GSMA explores how progress in closing the mobile internet gender gap has stalled, with women 14% less likely than men to use mobile internet. She highlights key barriers including handset affordability and digital skills, and the $1.3 trillion GDP opportunity. Urgent, targeted action from stakeholders is needed to prevent women being left behind digitally.
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Youth Business International (YBI), the global leader in youth entrepreneurship, is calling for urgent action to support high-growth potential youth-led businesses trapped in the “missing middle.” YBI’s new policy paper sets out strategies to de-risk youth entrepreneurship and unlock sustainable economic growth, job creation, and innovation — particularly among underrepresented youth, women, and businesses outside traditional tech hubs.
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What do we mean by "Human Rights and Governance"?

Explore initiatives that advance human rights and promote effective governance, driving global change, enforcing equity and alleviating poverty.

Sub-topics within this category