As the year comes to an end, it is a good moment to take stock of all the developments and milestones we have seen this year within ECCJ and at the political level. 2023 has been a remarkably eventful year for both the ECCJ and the whole Business and Human Rights movement: from the first-ever EU due diligence law to visits from Global South activists.

Looking back, here are our key take aways from the past 12 months:  

• Starting from the most notable collective achievement, last December 14th, a political deal was finally agreed after more than 7 months of intense negotiations on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).  Back in June, ECCJ and the entire network expressed great optimism when the European Parliament adopted its stance on the CSDDD. This position encompassed numerous significant enhancements compared to the Commission and Council’s proposals. Notably, it demonstrated a stronger adherence to international business and human rights standards, along with reduced barriers for victims seeking legal redress. Whether it is disheartening that the final agreement does not include climate obligations and civil liability remains out of the directive’s scope, the fact that we now have a CSDDD, considering the backlash the legislation proposal has endured in the last decade, is undeniably remark. 

• Since the release of the CSDDD Council general approach in 2022, our advocacy endeavors have shifted towards the pursuit of a directive that would truly and effectively prevent harm to individuals and the environment. To achieve this, our office has dedicated an extensive amount of time to engage in numerous discussions with civil society organisations, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Countless are the hours that our policy team has spent coordinating with our vast network and allies, producing analysis and open letters targeted at high–level policymakers. Additionally, we have organised numerous public events to emphasise not only the importance of the file but also its intersectional nature, such as Hidden in plain sight – Women’s rights and access to justice in global value chains or corporate sustainability due diligence – Making it work. As evident from our most recent event in October 2023 “Unpacking the CSDDD: responsibility, climate and justice”, our efforts have resonated; more than 400 individuals from five continents register for the event, and the attendee’s retention rate exceeded 65%, on and offline.

• Our public campaign “Justice is Everybody’s Business” has had great success since its launch in September 2022. Together with more than 120 key advocates and civil society actors from all over the world, the movement highlighted the importance of grassroots activism and mobilization in bringing about meaningful change. The campaign empowered us to bridge the gap between the people and those in power, and reminded us that politics should be accessible and inclusive to all. In an innovative approach to promote corporate justice, we brought the concept to life by exhibiting in the streets a giant inflatable statue of lady justice that toured in 7 European capitals. The campaign has also been a platform for activists from all over the world to tell their firsthand experiences, shedding light on the harmful impacts of an unregulated business system. Our voices strongly resonated in Brussels, where we ran actions in front of the European Parliament and literally projected what Justice means to us on institutions buildings.    

• Throughout this challenging 2023 year of CSDDD negotiations, ECCJ has consistently been recognised as a reputable and reliable voice. Our efforts have been acknowledged both by our allies and media outlets which quoted our organisation more than 100 times (ECCJ and the JIEB campaign combined). With the collaboration of the “Justice is Everybody’s Business” campaign, we organised a media breakfast with key Brussels-based journalists and human rights defenders that unpacked their stories of injustice and confronted policymakers in the heart of Europe. What we have always strived for is to create a space where people and victims of corporate abuse can have their voices heard and demands acknowledged.

• Finally, we want to acknowledge our team and membership, for whom we are extremely grateful for. Over the course of this past year, the ECCJ team has experienced remarkable growth and transformation. From just six individuals in December 2022, we have now evolved into a close-knit group of ten passionate and caring colleagues who have steadfastly supported one another. The support of our members has been unvaluable, whose unwavering dedication, and inspiration carried along our work in this hectic year. 

More hard work and achievements in the making. See you all in 2024! 

The ECCJ Team