Publication /
A piece, not a proxy
The European Commission’s dangerous overreliance on industry schemes, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and third-party auditing in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
News /
Industry schemes must not be part of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
The European Commission’s proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence includes a dangerous overreliance on industry schemes, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and third-party auditing, a briefing paper by SOMO concludes. Publication / November 25, 2022…
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Statement /
Give non-state actors access to customs trade information
SOMO and 55 other civil society organisations and trade unions wrote an open letter to the European Commission on the ongoing revision of the Union Customs legislation. They call on the Commission to ensure that…
Statement /
NGOs are calling on EU vice president Frans Timmermans to withdraw from the ECT
Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany want to exit the Energy Charter Treaty as it is not in line with Paris climate goals. Twelve organizations, including SOMO, are calling on Frans Timmermans and…
Long read /
Climate finance as a business model
How Dutch climate negotiators colluded with business and undermined climate finance for developing countries
Statement /
Governments should remove the threat of ISDS to climate goals
As the UN climate conference COP 27 is in full swing, over 350 organisations in more then 60 countries call on governments to commit to remove the threat that ISDS poses to climate goals by…
Opinion /
COP27: EU adoption of a “modernised” Energy Charter Treaty would open door to more climate chaos
Publication /
Shine a light on leather
Analysis: supply chain disclosure practices of 100 companies in the leatherware industry
News /
Luxury brands must reveal the origin of their leather goods
Luxury brands including Armani, Versace, Michael Kors and Coach don’t provide key information on the origin of their leather products. An analysis carried out by SOMO shows that 35 out of 44 luxury brands examined…
Publication /
Shine a light on leather
Discussion paper on transparency in the leatherware supply chain
News /
SOMO welcomes game-changing Dutch bill on mandatory due diligence
The ‘Bill on Responsible and Sustainable International Business Conduct’, submitted to the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday by six Dutch political parties is set to be a game changer in the field of corporate accountability. SOMO…
Opinion /
Holland inc: for all your investments in war crimes
News /
Telenor and civil society move forward in mediation over digital security of Myanmar citizens
Telenor and 474 civil society organizations from Myanmar, represented by SOMO, have reached a preliminary agreement in an ongoing mediation process related to the Norwegian telecoms operator’s rushed exit from Myanmar in 2021. The memorandum…
News /
The Netherlands wants to exit Energy Charter Treaty
In a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Dutch minister of Energy and Climate Rob Jetten spoke out in favour of exiting the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). In doing so, he responded to a broad call from…
Long read /
Even a modernised Energy Charter Treaty is a hurdle to reach climate goals
ISDS not removed from modernised text
Statement /
EU and UN instruments must work in tandem to guarantee justice
The UN Treaty aimed at regulating the activities of transnational corporations and other businesses (also commonly referred to as the Legally Binding Instrument, or LBI), and the proposed EU Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence…
News /
Urgent call to the Dutch government: exit the Energy Charter Treaty now
Urgenda, SOMO, Greenpeace, the Dutch labour union FNV and eight other organisations are appealing urgently to the Dutch government to “join as many countries as possible in stepping out of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)”….
News /
Independent research confirms FMO’s responsibility for destruction caused by Barro Blanco dam, recommends compensation
Dutch development bank FMO bears responsibility for the destruction of livelihoods, economic losses and environmental damage caused by the construction of the Barro Blanco dam in Panama, according to a report by the bank’s Independent…