A couple of months ago, we asked you to contact your MP about the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. Thank you to all of you who took this action. It was a great first step - but the Bill has already passed through the House of Commons and is currently being discussed in the Lords so we need to keep up the pressure.
Land grabs are devastating communities around the world. As it stands, this Bill will make it harder for people to seek justice in UK courts when their rights have been violated by British companies involved in land grabs. For information on how this Bill will have an effect on vulnerable people, check out this briefing note.
We need to remind the Foreign Secretary that the UK has signed up to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and that this Bill undermines Britain’s commitments on business and human rights. The UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights has also expressed concerns that these measures in the Bill would result in practical and procedural barriers for those seeking justice.
Please ask the Foreign Secretary to make sure this Bill is urgently amended so that it does not reduce the practical ability of those suffering human rights abuses by British companies to seek redress through our courts.
It’s time to take action.
Tags: Campaigns, fix the system, Food justice, food system, grow, land, landgrab, legal aid bill, oxfam gb, Oxfam Midlands, system, systemisbust, UK campaigns, William Hague
