Barriers to Access for Justice for Victims of Human Rights Abuses Outlined

May 1, 2009 - Today, EarthRights International filed a submission to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee for Human Rights detailing recommendations on how to improve access to justice in UK courts for people who allege abuses of human rights by UK companies operating abroad. In responding to the Joint Committee’s request for submissions, EarthRights staff consulted with UK public interest and human rights lawyers to learn about the barriers to effective litigation on behalf of human rights plaintiffs in the UK. 

EarthRights recommends that the UK Government:

1. establish clear legal principles to attribute abuses by subsidiaries and third parties to their UK parents and partners
2. permit “opt-out” class action suits in the case of gross human rights violations
3. ease financial barriers that deter plaintiffs and their counsel from bringing human rights cases in the UK

Learn more about the evidence submitted by EarthRights and other organizations > >

Documents: 

Read the full submission to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee for Human Rights