On international human rights day,
10th December 2020, IHRB’s annual Top 10
Business and Human Rights Issues reflects a
tumultuous year of pandemic-driven impacts
on nearly every facet of life – from health to the
economy, from the workplace to global trade.
IHRB’s forecast for critical business and human rights issues that
need urgent attention in 2021 is as stark as it has ever been.
Our 2021 Top 10 list reflects on the ongoing and unprecedented
implications of COVID-19 across five key areas: redesigning
supply chains, preventing the misuse of COVID-related
technology, the crisis of crew change at sea, mass-scale theft
of migrant workers’ wages, and uncertainties over the future of
the modern workplace.
It also highlights five critical issues beyond the immediate
effects of COVID-19 where the business and human rights
agenda will demand attention in 2021. They collectively
represent deep-seated challenges: the resurgence of stateimposed forced labour, growing climate-driven migration,
race-based discrimination at all levels, increasing divides over
business standards in key governance areas, and the need for
financing just transitions toward a net-zero world.
As always, we welcome your comments, feedback,
collaboration, and ideas.