Skip to content

News archive

  • Photo: Mathias Reding via Pexels

    Swedwatch to work on business and human rights in Ukraine

    Swedwatch has been granted nearly 1.7 million SEK in project support from the Swedish Institute (SI) to work on two projects in Ukraine over the next two years. One project focuses on responsible business conduct, while the other aims to strengthen cooperation on corporate responsibility within the Eastern Partnership, in collaboration with partner organizations from Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.

  • Swedwatch appointed to EU expert group on public procurement

    Swedwatch appointed to EU expert group on public procurement


    Swedwatch has been appointed as a member of the European Commission’s Stakeholder Expert Group on Public Procurement (SEGPP). This appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the Commission embarks on a revision of the EU’s 2014 Public Procurement Directive. Integration of mandatory social and environmental criteria into the Directive has the potential to significantly improve the lives of millio

  • Dhaka, May 2023. Photo:Swedwatch

    Swedwatch: Urgent action needed to secure living wages in Bangladesh’s garment sector

    A new report from Swedwatch highlights ongoing wage violations in Bangladesh’s garment sector, with workers depending on overtime pay to make ends meet, often falling into chronic debt. The EU's new corporate sustainability due diligence directive carries the potential to curb this trend, yet further actions are needed.

  • COP29: Agree to a fair climate finance goal that will reach those who need it the most

    COP29: Agree to a fair climate finance goal that will reach those who need it the most

    At COP29, the spotlight will be on climate finance. But deciding an ambitious target amount is only half of the solution. Climate finance must also be primarily grants and reach the most vulnerable countries and communities - especially Indigenous Peoples, and local communities on the frontlines.
    -Without inclusive and rights-based support, the promise of climate finance remains hollow, says Lu

  • Joint statement urging World Bank to take action on Cambodian civil society reprisals

    Together with over 150 organizations, Swedwatch has signed a statement sent to the World Bank president Ajay Banga demanding him to take action against the worsening situation for Cambodian human rights defenders in the country. The organizations attacked, CENTRAL and Equitable Cambodia, are important voices for democracy and human rights in the country and part of Swedwatch’s network.
    -We dema

  • Liberia forth African country to adopt a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights

    On the 14thof August Liberia launched its first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, NAP BHR. Swedwatch and its partner organization Green Advocates International (GAI) have been working to integrate women from business impacted communities in the policy-process. Both partners welcome the adoption of the NAP BHR, and call for an inclusive implementation and monitoring process.
    - I

  • Reality Uncorked: New Swedwatch report highlights human rights issues in state-owned Systembolaget´s wine supply chain and calls for strengthened sustainability efforts

    Reality Uncorked: New Swedwatch report highlights human rights issues in state-owned Systembolaget´s wine supply chain and calls for strengthened sustainability efforts

    The new Swedwatch report, based on interviews conducted at four farms in the Western Cape in South Africa by Swedwatch's project partner ILRIG (The International Labour Research and Information Group), reveals pressing human rights violations, including harassment and threats, and health issues resulting from pesticide exposure – and urges state-owned wine retailers such as Systembolaget to conduc

  • Swedwatch´s annual report – Highlights for 2023

    Swedwatch´s annual report – Highlights for 2023

    The EU directive on corporate responsibility for human rights and the environment (CSDDD), the responsibility of companies with operations in conflict areas, the importance of sustainable public procurement, and the numerous challenges in the textile industry were among the topics that Swedwatch addressed during 2023.
    In Highlights 2023, presented digitally this year, Swedwatch highlights some

  • Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry. Photo: Ninni Andersson/ The Swedish Government office

    A law regulating corporate responsibility for human rights is feasible – and in demand

    Concerned about Sweden's intention to vote against the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and misleading comments made by the minister in charge, Swedwatch, Fairtrade Sweden, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Oxfam Sweden and ForumCiv released a joint statement to set the record straight.
    Download the full statement (in Swedish).
    According to Brussels sources, Sweden

  • Photo Jessica Johansson, 2022: Firestone Liberia's rubber plantation, 50 km West of the capital Monrovia. Residents in the area depend on small-scale fishing and agriculture and reportedly are directly affected by pollution.

    New president in Liberia – 10 % of the country’s land mass is conceded to a company from the UAE

    Liberia's new president Joseph Boakai takes office this week after a historic peaceful election in November 2023. He wants to tackle corruption and review land concessions in the mining industry. At the same time, the company Blue Carbon LLC from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for huge forest land concessions for carbon credits in Africa, including i

Show more