How the German Supply Chain Act can be used by those it is intended to protect
The human rights and environmental impacts of economic activities along international value chains are now well known. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were therefore adopted in 2011. These make it clear that not only states are obliged to protect human rights, but that companies also have a responsibility to take due diligence measures to prevent, minimise or remedy any potential negative impacts of their business activities on human rights. However, the reports of ongoing human rights violations and environmental destruction in the value chains of transnational companies are unrelenting. In recent years, this has increasingly led to the realisation that voluntary approaches are not enough to ensure corporate responsibility. Instead, legally binding regulations are needed to protect human rights and the environment.

After years of civil society engagement, political lobbying and litigation in German courts, a corresponding law finally came into force in Germany on 1 January 2023.

The aim of this handout is to inform those affected by human rights violations and environmental destruction along transnational value chains as well as civil society organisations in production countries about the new law and the opportunities it offers. The handout is intended to support those affected and their stakeholders in using this new instrument as effectively as possible to assert their rights and demands.

The guide is also available in French, Spanish, English and Portuguese .

• Publisher: Misereor, Bread for the World, ECCHR
• Year of publication: September 2024
• Number of pages: 17