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GBI is pleased to announce the latest guidance briefing and podcast in the What “good” looks like series. Drawing on over 17 years of practice-based insights from our work with companies on implementing the corporate respect for human rights, this series aims to share practical lessons from business experience. It is designed to support both companies and policymakers as they navigate growing expectations and requirements for meaningful human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD).
Our latest guidance briefing provides practical insights and examples of practice on one of the trickiest topics for business practitioners - direct linkage. Companies may often find themselves connected to adverse human rights impacts through direct linkage, however it can be difficult for companies to determine whether they are directly linked.
“Direct linkage is not a safe harbour. It is the Rubicon, and the only question is whether the threshold has been crossed.” - Gerald Pachoud, Senior Advisor, GBI
Specifically, the guidance briefing explores:
- A framework for analysis that companies can apply to determine if they are directly linked
- Examples of common myths on direct linkage and why they are just myths
- A series of scenario case studies of companies and how they determined whether they were directly linked
Lastly, the guidance briefing includes considerations for policymakers about approaching acknowledging direct linkage in mandatory HREDD guidance and accompanying measures.
To accompany this guidance briefing, you can also listen to our new podcast on direct linkage with GBI Chair and Senior Advisor, Anita Ramasastry, and GBI Senior Advisors, Gerald Pachoud and Jon Drimmer, with their additional thoughts on how companies can tackle this complicated issue and why they should and how policymakers can approach direct linkage in mandatory HREDD legislation.
Access the guidance briefing here
Access the GBI Conversations podcast here
