Companies have significant power and influence over our lives. The impact can be incredibly positive, for example, increased employment opportunities, access to goods and services, and improved technology. However, the examples of companies causing harm continue, as have the local and international actions, largely initiated by communities and civil society, to improve legal protections and open accessible routes for justice and remedy.
In the globalized economy, ensuring corporate accountability across borders can be incredibly challenging for a local campaign. Without corporate accountability, there is a risk of corporations exploiting workers, local communities, martialized populations – including women, indigenous and traditional people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ – as well as our environment.
Globally, as part of the movement for Corporate Accountability, International Accountability Project (IAP) and the Early Warning System track the private actors involved in developing finance, distributing this information to the communities and civil society partners likely to be impacted. To provide expanded legal protections for communities, IAP conducts analyses of the role of private actors, including researching more deeply into the complex relationships involved to strengthen local campaigns and global policy advocacy. Locally, IAP trains, advises, and accompanies communities and local civil society through negotiation processes with governments and companies.
The movement to protect individuals and communities from potential human and environmental rights abuses from corporate activities and to seek remedy when harm is caused, should be led by communities, local organizations, and social movements. In fact, many have long played a crucial role in securing corporate accountability protections and justice, but too often, their expertise and priorities are not fully represented. IAP is challenging and changing this as a crucial intermediary between the local campaigns IAP directly supports and as a key voice in the global efforts to bring broader, sustainable change.
