Voices - Conversations on Business and Human Rights from Around the World

What is a JETP and why is it so important to the just transition agenda? And what can we learn from South Africa’s JETP progress? IHRB’s Haley St Dennis talks to Yuri Ramkissoon from South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, who is deeply involved in South Africa’s JETP. Together, they unpack the JETP and explores how this form of climate finance is supporting a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy.

What can we learn from real-world examples of transitions as they play out in countries at the centre of climate action, such as Brazil – home to the Amazon rainforest and host of COP30 in 2025? In this episode IHRB’s Haley St Dennis is joined by Brazilian journalist Leonardo Sakamoto to discuss the human rights impacts of the Brazil's climate action.

Heidi is the former Vice President of the European Parliament and has also recently joined IHRB's International Advisory Council.

This episode discusses a recent ruling in Florida that has found the company Chiquita liable for killings committed by a paramilitary group that was on the company's payroll in Colombia. It also explores the broader implications for businesses worldwide and the importance of adhering to international standards and codes of conduct when engaging private security companies.

IHRB’s Head of Built Environment, Giulio Ferrini and host Deborah Sagoe have been speaking to people working on green transitions in cities around the world. They all share challenges and successes of green initiatives, from problems with ‘renovictions’, to pioneering housing developments driven by the right to housing.

David Schilling from the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility discusses the history and evolution of ESG with author and ESG expert Vasuki Shastry and IHRB’s Salil Tripathi. They discuss the role of ethical investors; the current backlash to ESG and the importance of regulatory frameworks in promoting responsible business practices.

In this episode, IHRB’s Francesca Fairbairn talks to John Attenborough from Mission to Seafarers and Ian Ralby, an expert in maritime law, about the safety and security of seafarers during times of conflict. Listen for accounts from seafarers caught in attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea; insights into the complexities of maritime law that can leave seafarers vulnerable; and how shipping companies' response to attacks on their ships and crew has evolved over the years.

When a state announces snap military conscription, how might companies respond to protect its employees?In this episode, IHRB’s Salil Tripathi and Vicky Bowman, explore the delicate balance companies must strike between compliance and resistance, and the creative strategies employed to protect their workforce. Salil is also joined by Nabi Abdullaev from Control Risks, a risk management consultant covering Russia.

In the rush for renewable energy, what are the impacts on Indigenous peoples?In this episode, IHRB’s Frances House sits down with two human rights defenders, Robie ​Halip from ​the ​Philippines and Prabindra Shakya ​from Nepal. Robie is ​the ​coordinator of The ​Indigenous ​Peoples ​Major ​Group ​for ​Sustainable ​Development. Prabin is convenor of Asia ​Indigenous ​Peoples ​Network ​in ​Extractive ​Industries ​and Energy and also the founder ​​of ​the ​Community ​Empowerment ​and ​Social ​Justice ​Network ​in ​Nepal.Robie and Prabin share examples of renewable energy projects from Norway to Nepal and how Indigenous people have been directly affected. You’ll also learn how the use of human rights conventions and concepts like Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) can protect rights through better engagement and partnerships between companies and Indigenous people, which are essential to help minimise social resistance to the green energy transition.

IHRB’s Salil Tripathi sits down with renowned human rights scholar Usha Ramanathan to explore the balance of rights and responsibilities for both states and business.They discuss everything from data, surveillance and privacy, to climate change, agriculture - and even space.  Usha offers a profound analysis of how businesses and states shape the lives of the vulnerable and shares her vision for a more equitable future, where human rights are not just recognised but respected.

‘Measuring the environmental effects of war breaks new ground’Is it possible to rebuild Ukraine in a greener, fairer way and can this be done while the country is still immersed in war?Two years have now passed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Tens of thousands have been killed and the fighting has caused immense damage to the environment. A groundbreaking new report has catalogued the environmental damage and outlined the essential steps needed for a green recovery. In this episode, IHRB’s CEO John Morrison sits down with Margot ​Wallström, who is co-chair of the group behind the report: the High-level Working Group on the Environmental Consequences of the War. Margot is also chair of IHRB's ​International ​Advisory ​Council, a ​former ​minister ​for ​foreign ​affairs in the Swedish government, and former Vice President of the European Commission.With the cost of environmental damage estimated to be 56 billion Euros, John and Margot discuss accountability; how environmental damage might now be viewed by international courts as a war crime; and the report's call for a green rebuild of Ukraine’s infrastructure.The report's recommendations have the health and wellbeing of the Ukrainian people at its heart. Its findings will be of paramount interest to businesses looking to invest in the recovery of Ukraine.

This episode discusses the impacts of corporate activity on fishing communities in Kerala, and the imperative for businesses to listen to the voices of indigenous communities and take proactive remedial action when things go wrong.

2024 is a record year for elections. Across the globe nearly four billion people will be heading to the polls -  half the world’s population.In the digital age, misinformation and disinformation can spread easily, with big implications for human rights. How can social media companies protect truth and mitigate these risks?To answer this question, IHRB’s Salil Tripathi sits down with Priyanka Motaparthy, Director of the Armed Conflict, Counterterrorism, and Human Rights Project at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute, and Iain Levine, director on the human rights policy team at Meta.In this episode our guests discuss the importance of free speech, what constitutes hate speech, the difference between misinformation and disinformation, and the serious repercussions for elections in an era of ‘fake news’, and what social media companies are doing to counter these issues.

”The UDHR is the heart and soul of the United Nations”The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is clear that "all organs of society" need to respect human rights, and Eleanor Roosevelt spoke about making these rights a reality "on the farm, in the factory and in the office".  As we mark 75 years of the UDHR, how has this foundation of human rights guided and improved the fulfilment of worker rights?In this episode of Voices, IHRB’s CEO John Morrison sits down with Sharan Burrow, former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, to get a trade unionist perspective on the UDHR’s legacy to improve conditions for workers, in particular for women and marginalised groups, and how collective bargaining and freedom of association are still critical.

What is the phenomenon of ‘decoupling’ and how is it affecting human rights and business? IHRB’s Salil Tripathi, along with guests Vasuki Shastry and Isabel Hilton, unpack what ‘decoupling’ is, whether it’s just hot air, how it’s more than an economic phenomenon, and why human rights practitioners should pay close attention.

How do you transform GCC economies to a new system that’s both sustainable and takes into account the welfare of workers? IHRB’s Tamara Juburi discusses this question with Tariq Al Olaimy, as well as the challenges and opportunities in this process, and how the role of finance can incentivise this change.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries where these materials are mined. Often the mining of these commodities isn’t regulated, or regulation around this mining isn’t enforced.  IHRB's Deborah Sagoe speaks to Francesca Fairbairn about her conversation with Dr Isokelo Munyuku Fama, a Doctor and human rights defender in the area of South Kivu Province in DRC, where a lot of mining takes place. They discuss the lack of adherence to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by companies working in the area and how South Kivu would welcome with open arms companies that adhere to these principles.

Hear from Ian Urbina, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who has been reporting on environmental and human rights crimes on the high seas for many years. In this episode of Voices he talks to IHRB's Francesca Fairbairn about maritime human rights violations and what governments and companies can do to improve respect for human rights on the ocean.

‘We could build a future with shared prosperity’Migration has become a highly politicised issue. Yet labour mobility is hugely important to the future health of the global economy.  OECD countries are rapidly ageing and unfilled jobs cost the global economy 3 - 7 billion dollars every day.  At the same time, migration is one of the most powerful anti-poverty tools in the world today, with benefits from remittances - the money that migrant workers send back to their origin countries - far outstripping foreign aid.  Voices host Deborah Sagoe and Carmen Pedraza from IHRB’s migrant workers programme, hear from Rebekah Smith, the Executive Director at Labour Mobility Partnerships.  Lamp is an organisation that believes in the power of movement to address some of the biggest issues we face in the global economy. Rebekah shares some startling statistics on the benefits that labour mobility brings to both origin and receiving countries.  She and Carmen also discuss the best ways to address these issues, given the major challenges that exist in current migration systems, and where as a migration community, we can help.   Rebekah will be appearing as the keynote speaker at The Global Forum for Responsible Recruitment.  To find out more head to: gfrr.org

In this episode of Voices, you will learn about one of the world’s first corporate just transition strategies from Rachel McEwan, Chief Sustainability Officer at energy company SSE, who talks with IHRB’s Haley St. Dennis about how SSE had to learn by doing.