Tesla and Human Rights: Addressing Supply Chain Controversies

Tesla and Human Rights: Addressing Supply Chain Controversies

Tesla, the electric car manufacturer synonymous with Elon Musk, green energy, and futuristic automation, has recently found itself in the crosshairs of human rights concerns. From the growing demands of shareholders to serious allegations surrounding suppliers, the company’s image is at risk of being tarnished. But what exactly are these allegations, and how is Tesla responding to them?

Glencore and the Supply Chain Dilemma

In June 2023, The Verge reported that Tesla’s major supplier, Glencore, was facing allegations of human rights abuses tied to its battery mineral mining operations (source). Battery minerals, particularly cobalt, are crucial for the production of electric vehicle batteries, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s largest suppliers.

The issue lies in the extraction process. There have been numerous reports over the years detailing the perilous working conditions in some mines, especially those that are not mechanized. Many of these mines employ children, who work in dangerous conditions with little to no safety equipment. The association of Tesla with a supplier alleged to partake in these abuses is, understandably, a concern for many, especially given Tesla’s self-proclaimed mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Shareholders Raise Their Voice

Concerns about the supply chain aren’t just from external observers. In May 2023, CleanTechnica reported that Tesla shareholders themselves were raising concerns over child and forced labor rights (source). The shareholders’ demand for transparency and action highlights an increasingly conscious business environment where corporate social responsibility isn’t just a catchphrase but a key factor in investment decisions.

The demand from shareholders isn’t solely about ethical concerns; it’s also about business sustainability. Human rights abuses in the supply chain can lead to disruptions, regulatory actions, and significant brand damage. In the age of socially conscious investing and heightened scrutiny from the public and regulators alike, ensuring a clean supply chain isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s smart business.

Tesla’s Response and The Road Ahead

As with any controversy, response and remedial action are key. Companies in the past, facing similar allegations, have taken steps ranging from complete denial to overhauling their entire supply chain. It’s important for Tesla, a leader in the electric vehicle market with a global presence, to take a stance that is both ethically and operationally sound.

Tesla has, in the past, emphasized its commitment to responsible sourcing. The company has also indicated that it is working on reducing, and eventually eliminating, cobalt from its batteries. Such a move would not only potentially alleviate some of the human rights concerns but also make the batteries less expensive to produce. But until that technological shift happens, the onus is on Tesla to ensure its current supply chain is free from abuses.

The Larger Industry Perspective

While Tesla remains in the spotlight given its market prominence and brand recognition, it’s essential to understand that the electric vehicle (EV) industry as a whole grapples with these challenges. The surge in demand for EVs, driven by increasing environmental awareness and governmental incentives, has amplified the demand for battery minerals. This rise correlates directly with the mining operations in regions with dubious labor practices.

However, what sets Tesla apart and puts it under greater scrutiny is its pronounced commitment to sustainability. For a brand that is synonymous with a green future and environmentally-friendly products, any deviation, even indirectly, from these principles can have amplified repercussions. It’s a tightrope that not just Tesla, but all major brands with a significant public image, walk on.

The Role of Regulatory Bodies and International Cooperation

It isn’t just the responsibility of corporations to ensure ethical sourcing; regulatory bodies play a crucial role too. Governments worldwide can and should impose stricter regulations on import practices, emphasizing transparency and ethical sourcing. The introduction of such regulations will not only ensure cleaner supply chains but also level the playing field, so companies that invest in ethical practices aren’t undercut by those that do not.

International bodies, such as the United Nations, can also play a part by facilitating dialogue and cooperation among nations to address these shared challenges. Creating a framework for responsible sourcing at an international level can be a game-changer for industries reliant on global supply chains.

Public Sentiment and Consumer Responsibility

In the age of information, consumers wield significant power. Public sentiment can drive corporate decision-making, and in many instances, force companies to adopt practices that they might otherwise overlook. Consumers, by being conscious of where they spend their money and by voicing their concerns, can be significant drivers of change.

For Tesla and other brands, feedback from their customer base, especially when amplified via social media and other platforms, can dictate corporate policies. It’s a symbiotic relationship, wherein companies need to listen to their consumers, and consumers need to be more informed and vocal about their concerns.

Final Thoughts

As the world stands on the cusp of a transportation revolution, with electric vehicles at the forefront, the challenges posed by supply chain ethics cannot be ignored. Tesla’s current predicament serves as a lesson for all: that technological advancements and ethical considerations must go hand in hand.

It’s not just about creating a sustainable planet in terms of energy but also in terms of humanity. As we race towards a future of clean energy, we must ensure that the path we carve is not tainted by the very issues we seek to alleviate. Tesla’s journey in addressing these challenges will be emblematic of the industry’s trajectory in the coming years. One can only hope that it sets a precedent of responsibility, transparency, and unwavering commitment to human rights.

Security for Human Rights Workers

Human rights workers may face risks to their security depending on where they work. Working in conflict areas or in areas where the authorities or armed groups do not condone human rights work may be particular risky areas for human rights workers.

Human rights workers may prepare themselves by taking courses such as hostile environment awareness training or using seeking information on sites such as Newtactics.org

Digital security is also an important part of security for human rights workers. A high level of digital security will assist in ensuring the confidentiality of the human rights workers’ work and partners. Good ressources on this can be found here:

Frontline Defenders

Activists Rights

The right to housing

The right to housing is recognised in a number of international human rights instruments. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living.[1] It states that:

“ Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. ”
Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also guarantees the right to housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living.

In international human rights law the right to housing is regarded as a freestanding right. This was clarified in the 1991 General Comment no 4 on Adequate Housing by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The general comment provides an authoritative interpretation of the right to housing in legal terms under international law.

The right to housing is also enshrined in Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 16 of the European Social Charter (Article 31 of the Revised European Social charter) and in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. According to UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, aspects of right to housing under ICESCR include: legal security of tenure; availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure; affordability; habitability; accessibility; location and cultural adequacy. As a political goal, right to housing was declared in F. D. Roosevelt’s 1944 speech on the Second Bill of Rights.

The Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity affirm that “everyone has the right to adequate housing, including protection from eviction, without discrimination and that States shall a) take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to ensure security of tenure and access to affordable, habitable, accessible, culturally appropriate and safe housing, including shelters and other emergency accommodation, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or material or family status; b) take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to prohibit the execution of evictions that are not in conformity with their international human rights obligations, and ensure that adequate and effective legal or other appropriate remedies are available to any person claiming that a right to protection against forced evictions has been violated or is under threat of violation, including the right to resettlement, which includes the right to alternative land of better or equal quality and to adequate housing, without discrimination.”

References:

OHCHR.org

NESRI

Huntington News – An article on how a free real estate market can work

HREA.ORG

ADDRESSING THE GAP IN AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS

In the past years, African culture has been heavily criticised for not giving due respect to African women. As a matter of fact, many campaigns that sought gender equality have been launched against practices like Female Genital Mutilation and forced early marriage – customs that ultimately negate gender equality. In order to address the said dilemmas in Africa, several policies have been passed to end gender-based discrimination. However, in delving deep into this issue, one must take into account the reality that such practices will not end in a heartbeat. These types of customs that have been practiced by Africans for so long cannot be legislated away within a month or two. Completely eradicating the aforementioned practices require a lot of ingredients such as patience, commitment, active participation, and political will. Moreover, there should be a dialogue between traditional leaders, African human rights organizations, and the entire African community as a whole.

When it comes to discussing African human rights, culture must be always taken into account. This is because culture is the foundation of the development of an entire nation. In order for a country’s culture to survive, it must be encapsulated in everything, especially in human rights. It is for this reason why cultural and civic policies should be merged so that the right methods can be utilized by traditional leaders in keeping their cultural heritage intact without harming any African’s human rights. In this regard, there is no need for an intensified degree of tribalism in Africa because it is very much capable of adopting a more humane and safe way of practicing traditions without the need for torture-based procedures.

“The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the United Nations’ treaty on women’s rights. Adopted by the General Assembly in 1979, it was the first international treaty to address the fundamental rights of women in politics, health-care, education, economics, employment, law, property and marriage and family relations filling a major gap in international human rights law.” (Purvis, 2012). Under CEDAW’s Article 1, it has been defined what extensive discrimination against women truly is in order to fully establish the importance of women’s human rights and general freedom. In addition to this, under article 7, it has been written that women should also be given the legal rights to hold public office and to vote whenever they wish. Under article 9, it states that women are given equal rights as African men for the purpose of providing them opportunities to establish an independent sense of identity as stakeholders in the African community.

Non-discrimination is something which ought to be basic among human rights in various countries. This is why CEDAW highlights the need for the absence of discrimination not only in the social and political environment but even in the private sphere or the household so as to fill in the gaps in African human rights. Under CEDAW, people are obligated to alter their sexist behaviours that often lead to the degradation of women. With the ongoing fight of African human rights organizations and women’s rights activists, many African women would finally be able to enjoy their human rights as people of Africa to the greatest extent.

 

SOURCES

 

Gawanas, B. (2014). The African Union: Concepts and implementation

mechanisms relating to human rights.

 

Purvis, C. (2012). 15: The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against

Women. Retrieved December 8, 2014, from http://thinkafricapress.com/international-law-africa/cedaw

BARRIERS TO AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS

Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, once said “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” (McHenry, 2013).Whatever a person’s ethnicity, religion, or color is, he is entitled to his human rights without discrimination. Human rights are rights that are inherent to an individual. As what is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human rights, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights like other people (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, n.d.). Put it simply, every person all across the world have human rights that ought to be acknowledged and respected.

Nelson Mandela is a hero who had successfully managed to debunk the ingrained system of white supremacy in the society for the promotion of the equal practice of all people’s human rights. He is greatly known for abolishing the apartheid and revising human rights during his time.

At present, it is not an unknown fact that there are various barriers to human rights in Africa. These stumbling blocks are not only cultural and religious in nature, but also social and gender-based. Up to this day, violence continues to harm thousands of African women regardless of the economic class they belong in. It has been said that this is one of the fruits of the cultural and social inequalities that seem to subsist between African men and women. Due to the subordinate status of women in Africa, they often experience abuse and violence. To make things worse, such gender discrimination is considered normal by many instead of a serious issue which should be resolved immediately.

The rights a person has to health, physical integrity, life, and to be free from any degrading treatment are all neglected by African healthcare providers and traditional circumcisers who perform Female Genital Mutilation, a discriminatory practice which is currently prevailing in Africa. The reasons as to why there are people who carry out such process can be explained best through the cultural background of Africa. FGM is a cultural practice which many women in Africa experience mostly because of social pressure. They are heavily influenced to conform to such tradition which is often deemed by most African people as a part of the so-called normal growth development of female individuals. This is supported by those traditional individuals who believe that female genital is a body part which is unclean; hence, if it will be removed, females who underwent the said process shall fall under the clean cultural ideal of Africans. While there are those individuals who have decided to consider this as something unimportant and wrong, there are still a lot of Africans today who promote and practice it. It is for this reason why African women’s human rights are still being violated until today.

What ought to be done regarding this matter is to raise the awareness of various Human Rights organizations around Africa that can potentially address the issue through the right and effective approach. In addition, community members should also strive to take into account the roles women play in society in order to value them more and raise their image so as to promote equality and fundamental human rights among African people.

 

SOURCES

McHenry, T. (2013). Carrying on the work of Nelson Mandela. Retrieved December 12,

2014, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/world/iyw-mandela-charitable-legacy/

Morsink, J. (1999). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, drafting, and

intent. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

 

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). What are

Human Rights. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Human rights are highly necessary in attaining an injustice-free society today. Without it, people would not behave according to what is moral and just. Hence, a society which is chaotic and tyrannical might come into existence if people do not have and acknowledge what people today refer to as ‘human rights’.

Despite the fact that African human rights have already been established and revised long ago, it cannot be overlooked how there are still many human rights violations that occur in South Africa up to this point in time. South Africa director, Tiseke Kasambala, once made a powerful statement by saying, “South Africa’s constitution provides strong protection for human rights and yet people are being attacked because of their sexual orientation or perceived refugee or migrant status. To make matters worse, the government is supporting legislation that would curb the rights to freedom of information and expression.” (Human Rights Watch, 2014). While it is true that South Africa has played a massive role in enhancing the LGBT community’s human rights over the years, it cannot be denied how the said country had still failed to manage and resolve the widespread abuse and violence being experienced by lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders in the country. In addition, South Africa had also not been able to address the grave violations to African people abroad. It can be recalled that back in 2011, a South African protester named Andries Tatane was killed by the police during a service delivery protest. All Andries did was practice his constitutional right to free expression, and yet he suffered from police violence and died because of police brutality. According to Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson, the issues currently prevailing in Africa involving police violence reveal the true need of the African community for a just enforcement of laws in the continent so as to observe each African’s human rights. Melissa Fleming, UNHCR’s spokesperson, also revealed that the rate of human rights violations in the Central African Republic is constantly increasing due to the looting, extortion, and physical assaults done by armed men in the area.

Evidently, countries in Africa are still having a rough time with the outcome of the post revolution. Many still lack organization and harmony among its citizens and government leaders. Most likely, the best way to address the human rights violations constantly occurring in South Africa and the Central African Republic is to map out an effective and appropriate governmental plan which would take into account not only the government’s sentiments and agendas but also that of the people, including African activists who would like their sentiments to be heard. On a wider scale, in order for Africa to make democratic advances for the welfare and overall betterment of the continent, stakeholders must make stronger commitments to the issues that involve African human rights. This can be done by a strict monitoring and efficient follow-up process initiated by the African commission in the different countries in the continent. In line with this, United Nations also aims to implement a set of human rights initiatives for Africans in the next years in order to improve the status of equality and justice in African countries.

 

SOURCES

Human Rights Watch. (2014). South Africa: Mixed Year for Human Rights | Human

Rights Watch. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/21/south-africa-mixed-year-human-rights

 

Salira. M. (2014). African Human Rights Need More Commitment. Retrieved December

6, 2014, from http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/38574-african-human-rights-need-more-commitment

 

UN to promote human rights for African people. (2014). Retrieved December 9, 2014,

from http://gulftoday.ae/portal/09b5708c-416e-4b2f-a1f1-1f9ca38456e2.aspx