Advocacy – A European directive on corporate accountability
For justice beyond
borders
Why a European directive on corporate accountability?
Adopted in 2017 after extensive efforts by a coalition of non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and members of Parliament, the French Duty of Vigilance Law represents a breakthrough in combating impunity of multinationals in relation to human rights and environmental abuses. This groundbreaking legal instrument is at the heart of Sherpa’s mission of strengthening corporate accountability through a combination of legal innovation, strategic litigation, and advocacy. The law has since inspired other national lawmakers and encouraged European civil society to support comparable legislation at the European level.
As a founding member of the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ), Sherpa actively contributes to this movement, leveraging over fifteen years of experience.
Given the economic and commercial influence of the European Union, the forthcoming directive could have a substantial impact.
It is crucial to learn from the French law to ensure that the directive serves as a genuine instrument for social and environmental justice that effectively addresses the numerous legal challenges faced by victims of economic crimes.
Timeline
Key dates
Impact
Why Advocate?
Today, public debates and decisions on the regulation of economic players are often dominated by the economic interests themselves. Our advocacy endeavours, carried out in collaboration with other civil society players, aims to ensure that the voices of citizens, communities and those affected are heard.
Sherpa exposes the human rights and environmental violations observed on the ground by our partners and demonstrates that the law is often ill-adapted to the problems caused by globalisation. Drawing on its expertise, Sherpa calls into question legal frameworks that allow, or even encourage, impunity for economic actors.
Sherpa develops recommendations for a better understanding of economic realities and proposes an innovative legislative arsenal. Our actions are aimed at changing the law to create a legal framework that better protects the environment, communities, and workers.
