Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability or Corporate social responsibility (CSR) receives a great deal of public attention. SOMO conducts research and stimulates activities that promote CSR. In addition, SOMO evaluates the effectiveness of CSR initiatives and the degree to which
initiatives, policy and norms actually contribute to sustainable economic
development and responsible corporate codes. This research is the basis of
SOMO’s proposals to introduce binding regulations.
News Corporate Accountability
Pluspetrol indicted at ‘Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos’
27-05-2010
In Madrid, the Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos’ took place from May 14 until 18. During this tribunal, representatives of local populations whose voice is not heard by official organizations exposed human rights violations by multinational corporations in Latin America. The Argentinian oil company Pluspetrol was one of the corporations brought to the tribunal on accusations of destroying the habitat of the Quechua indians in the northern Amazon region of Peru. Maaike Kokke from SOMO was present at the tribunal to illustrate the corporate structure of Pluspetrol. Since 2000, the Pluspetrol headquarters are located in Amsterdam.
Worldwide training and advice on CSR
21-05-2010
Alongside carrying out research, SOMO regularly gives training and advice to social organisations in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in the context of building capacity and spreading knowledge. In March, SOMO gave a training to Chinese social organisations in order to deploy CSR effectively in the promotion of sustainable agriculture in sectors such as tea. Furthermore, SOMO issued advice to the research of a coalition of consumer organisations. This advice was targeted at their research methodology for a study into the effects of spending at European supermarkets for food suppliers in developing countries.
Advise for sustainable investors
13-04-2010
This year the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling - VBDO) has issued a voting advice which can be used when voting in shareholders’ meetings of Dutch stock exchange-listed companies. The voting advice is based on research of SOMO.
Are codes of conduct and standards important for SMEs in developing countries?
24-03-2010
UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, has commissioned SOMO to carry out research into the importance of codes of conduct and standards for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. The project is based on research conducted in the clothing industry in Turkey, the furniture industry in Brazil and the leather industry in India. Local researchers interviewed over 100 businesses in these countries. Based on the findings of this study, UNIDO will publish a handbook in the latter half of this year in collaboration with SOMO on codes of conduct and business standards. The handbook is designed to help businesses in developing countries establish their own codes of conduct and enhance their market opportunities.
Procure IT Fair launches company monitor
18-09-2009
Today, the Procure IT Fair campaign launches its IT Company Monitor. This online tool publishes news items available online that deal with the environment, working conditions and human rights throughout the supply chains of the large computer brands.
