Human Rights
Regulatory measures and corporate obligations focused on protecting and respecting fundamental human rights, including trade restrictions on goods used for torture or capital punishment, and due diligence requirements across operations and value chains.
Foresight tracks Human Rights developments and surfaces the alerts most likely to matter before they turn into missed deadlines, recalls, or escalation work.
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Last updated
13 May 2026, 11:57
Latest Human Rights alerts
The most recent regulatory and guidance signals tracked by Foresight
EU Notice Reminds Listed Ukraine Sanctions Targets of Asset Reporting Obligations
In May 2026 the EU published an Official Journal notice reminding all persons and entities listed under its Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions regime of their duty under Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 to report assets and economic resources located in EU Member States. The notice emphasises that listed parties must disclose these funds to national competent authorities within six weeks of listing and cooperate with verification, with non-compliance treated as circumvention of sanctions, so sanctions and compliance teams should confirm that internal controls capture these reporting obligations for any affected group entities or counterparties.
European UnionSpain Ministry of Labour Issues 100-Measure Roadmap for CSR and CSDDD Transposition
Spain’s Ministry of Labour has unveiled a 100-measure expert roadmap to shift corporate social responsibility from voluntary initiatives towards binding due diligence obligations as it prepares to transpose the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. This signals a medium-term tightening of ESG governance for companies operating in Spain, with likely new duties on human-rights and environmental risk management, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement once legislative proposals follow.
SpainNew York Senate Bill S10265 Proposes Menstrual and Menopausal Workplace Accommodation and Notice Requirements
New York has introduced Senate Bill S10265 to expand anti‑discrimination protections for workers with menstrual, perimenopausal and menopausal conditions and to require employers to distribute rights information and post workplace notices. If enacted, HR and compliance teams in New York would need to update accommodation policies, ensure these conditions are explicitly covered, and implement Division of Human Rights pamphlet distribution and notice‑posting within the 90‑day implementation window for the new section 201‑j.
United StatesEU High Representative Announces Third-Country Alignment with Iran Sanctions Decision (CFSP) 2026/774
In May 2026 the EU High Representative announced that ten European partner countries have aligned their national policies with the EU’s latest Council Decision amending sanctions against Iran. This extends EU-style Iran asset freezes and listings to additional jurisdictions, heightening sanctions screening and trade-compliance risks for companies operating or dealing in those markets.
European Union
Albania
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Norway
Serbia
UkraineEU High Representative Announces Alignment of Eight Third Countries With Ukraine Sanctions Decision 2026/614
The EU has confirmed that eight European third countries have aligned with Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/614, which adds nine Russian military officers linked to atrocities in Bucha to the Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions list. This extends asset-freeze and travel-ban obligations into those jurisdictions without creating new sector-specific trade or chemical restrictions, so groups operating or banking there should update sanctions screening and counterparty controls accordingly.
European UnionAlbaniaBosnia & HerzegovinaIcelandMoldovaMontenegroNorth MacedoniaNorwayUkraineEU Commission Begins Consultation on New EU Anti-Corruption Strategy
The European Commission has opened a call for evidence and public consultation on a new EU anti-corruption strategy, running from 11 May to 6 July 2026 ahead of a planned Communication in late 2026. This non-legislative initiative signals a more coordinated and stringent EU stance on corruption prevention, oversight and transparency, likely shaping future legal, enforcement and compliance expectations for organisations operating in and with the EU.
European UnionEU Council Decision 2026/1072 Adds 16 Persons and 7 Entities to Ukraine Sanctions List
In May 2026 the EU Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1072 adding 16 individuals and 7 entities to its Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions list. Companies with EU touchpoints must urgently re-screen counterparties and ensure no funds or economic resources flow to these newly listed parties, adjusting contracts and supply-chain relationships where needed.
European UnionEU Council Adds 16 Individuals and 7 Entities to Ukraine Territorial Integrity Sanctions List Over Deportation of Ukrainian Children
In May 2026 the EU Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1055 to add 16 individuals and 7 Russian youth and military-patriotic organisations to the Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions list for their role in deporting, indoctrinating, and militarising Ukrainian children. These designations immediately extend asset-freeze and no-funds obligations under the existing sanctions regime, so companies with any exposure to Russia or occupied Ukrainian territories must rapidly update screening and due diligence to avoid direct or indirect dealings with the newly listed parties.
European UnionEU Council Adds 16 Persons and 7 Entities to Ukraine Territorial Integrity Sanctions List
In May 2026 the EU Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1072, adding 16 individuals and 7 Russian state-linked organisations to the Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions list with immediate effect. This widens EU sanctions exposure for financial institutions and companies dealing with Russian and occupied-territory counterparties, requiring rapid updates to screening tools, KYC and contractual controls.
European UnionEU Council Adds 16 Persons and 7 Entities to Ukraine Territorial Integrity Sanctions List
In May 2026 the EU Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1072, adding 16 individuals and 7 entities linked to the unlawful deportation, forced transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children to its Ukraine territorial integrity sanctions regime. This broadens the scope of EU restrictive measures, so companies with exposure to Russia, Ukraine or related supply chains should quickly refresh sanctions screening, reassess high‑risk counterparties and anticipate further tightening of human‑rights‑based trade and financial controls.
European UnionEU Council Restores Full Application of EU–Syria Cooperation Agreement
In May 2026 the Council of the European Union adopted a decision terminating the partial suspension of the 1977 EU–Syria Cooperation Agreement, restoring its full application after EU economic sanctions on Syria were largely lifted in 2025. This step reopens preferential trade under the agreement for Syrian oil, petroleum products and certain mineral commodities and signals political normalisation, while EU security-related restrictive measures remain in force and companies must still manage sanctions and counterparty risk before re-engaging.
European Union
SyriaEU Publishes Directive (EU) 2026/1021 on Combatting Corruption in Official Journal
The EU has now formally published Directive (EU) 2026/1021 on combatting corruption, creating harmonised criminal offences, corporate liability, and stringent sanctions for corruption across all Member States, with entry into force in May 2026 and staggered transposition deadlines. This will drive Member States to tighten anti-corruption laws, enforcement and prevention frameworks by 2028–2029, meaning companies face higher expectations on governance, internal controls, public-tender conduct and whistleblower protection to avoid criminal exposure and exclusion from public markets.
European UnionCouncil of Europe GRETA Publishes Fourth Evaluation of UK Anti-Trafficking Measures
On 5 May 2026 the Council of Europe’s GRETA body published its fourth evaluation of how the UK is implementing the anti-trafficking convention, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities for migrant workers, asylum seekers, children and other at-risk groups. The report increases pressure for the UK to tighten labour enforcement and immigration safeguards, strengthen Modern Slavery Act supply-chain transparency and victim protections, and raises expectations on corporate human-rights due diligence in high-risk sectors.
United KingdomEU Commission Issues Mid-Term Report on Union of Equality Disability Strategy 2021–2030
In May 2026 the European Commission issued a detailed mid-term report on implementing the 2021–2030 Union of Equality strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, consolidating progress, enforcement gaps and key milestones across EU accessibility, social inclusion and equality legislation. It reinforces that while no new legal obligations are created, Member States and service providers must prepare for approaching deadlines – notably for the European Disability Card regime and the European Accessibility Act – and strengthen compliance on accessible products, digital services, buildings and labour markets as expectations on disability inclusion and human rights rise.
European UnionFinland Consults on National Enforcement of EU Forced‑Labour Products Regulation
Finland has launched a public consultation on a draft law to enforce the EU regulation banning products made with forced labour, designating a national supervisory authority with powers to investigate cases and impose financial sanctions from December 2027. This will harden human-rights-based trade controls and increase supply chain due diligence expectations for companies placing products on the Finnish and wider EU market.
FinlandEuropean UnionUS House Introduces H.R. 8712 To Amend Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for Xinjiang Disclosures
In May 2026, H.R. 8712 was introduced in the US House to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by requiring issuers to make specified disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. If enacted, this would create new Exchange Act reporting focused on Xinjiang-related risks, signalling heightened scrutiny of human rights and supply-chain exposure in corporate securities disclosures.
United StatesUS House Introduces H.R. 8681 on Sanctions for Forced Labor in Cobalt Mining
In May 2026, a new US House bill (H.R. 8681) was introduced to impose sanctions on foreign persons that employ forced or child labor in cobalt mining abroad. If it advances, this proposal could materially raise sanctions and reputational risks for cobalt-linked supply chains, reinforcing expectations for human-rights due diligence and supplier screening.
United StatesUN CRPD Committee Issues Concluding Observations on Pakistan
In March 2026 the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued wide-ranging concluding observations on Pakistan’s implementation of the Convention, published in May 2026. The recommendations point to stronger expectations on non-discrimination, accessibility, inclusive employment and social protection, signalling future legal and policy reforms that will raise compliance, ESG and human-rights due diligence pressures for public authorities and private employers in Pakistan.
PakistanUS HHS Issues Interim Final Rule Extending Web and Mobile Accessibility Compliance Deadlines
In May 2026 the US Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule extending by one year the compliance dates for Section 504 web and mobile accessibility requirements for recipients of its federal financial assistance. This delay eases short‑term implementation pressure while preserving the WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard, giving covered organisations more time to resource digital accessibility upgrades ahead of the new 2027 and 2028 compliance dates.
United StatesFrance Adopts Decree Transposing EU Anti-SLAPP Directive; Civil Society Criticises Limited Scope
France has adopted Decree 2026-337, entering into force on 7 May 2026, to transpose the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive 2024/1069 into its civil procedure code by creating fast-track dismissal and cost-shifting tools against manifestly unfounded or abusive lawsuits targeting participation in public debate. For companies, media and civil society actors operating in France this delivers long-awaited procedural protections against SLAPP-style civil claims, but its civil-only scope and the absence of parliamentary debate suggest limited ambition and leave criminal defamation cases as an ongoing litigation and reputational risk.
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