prompt businesses to rapidly establish human rights and environmental due
diligence mechanisms. 96
On May 24, 2024, the EU formally adopted the Corporate
Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which will take effect
20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal. Member states must
transpose the directive into national laws within two years to ensure
implementation. Under the directive, companies must adopt a risk-based
approach to identify, assess, prevent, mitigate, and terminate (or minimize)
potential and actual risks of human rights violations and environmental
damage in their operations and supply chains. These measures must be
integrated into company policies. Companies are required to monitor the
effectiveness of their due diligence measures. Member States must ensure
companies dialogue with potentially affected stakeholders and establish
grievance mechanisms for victims. Starting in mid-2027, regulated
companies will have mandatory environmental and human rights due
diligence obligations.
During the “Mid-Term Review Press Conference for the Action Plan
for Fisheries and Human Rights” held on June 5, 2024, Lee Yu-ton,
Director of Greenpeace's Ocean Project, highlighted the growing trend of
assigning greater legal responsibilities to businesses for safeguarding
human rights. She stated, “The international community is beginning to
hold businesses legally accountable for protecting human rights.
Enterprises must now identify, prevent, and terminate human rights
violations within their supply chains. For Taiwan's distant water fisheries
to maintain international competitiveness, the industry must accelerate its
transformation and ensure companies fulfill their due diligence obligations
in supply chains to meet market demands.”97
Central News Agency, “Ministry of Economic Affairs Proposes Supply Chain Human Rights
Guidelines; Civil Groups Call for the Establishment of a Due Diligence Mechanism,” Reporter
Chang Hsiong-Feng, April 15, 2024.
(URL: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202404150264.aspx, last accessed: June 14, 2024)
97
Press release by the Coalition of “Human Rights for Migrant Fishers,” “Midterm Review of
96
115
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