Most of our cases originate because a multinational company is operating in a country without a fully functioning or corrupt legal system and uses that lack of the rule of law knowingly to exploit and abuse workers, farmers, and others impacted by the company's operations.

IRAdvocates prioritizes cases that can prevent multinational companies from committing or aiding the worst forms of forced labor and violating the human rights of people in global supply chains

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When Multinationals Choose Collaboration over Court

Sony Case Study: Imagine the progress achievable if companies redirected resources from legal defenses to real solutions.

For over two decades, International Rights Advocates has championed justice for communities victimized by corporate human rights abuses, tirelessly engaging in dialogue and confronting powerful multinational corporations as a last resort. Our commitment to justice though isn't measured merely in courtroom victories though but in years, resilience, and unwavering determination.

Our battle with Exxon Mobil vividly shows this commitment. For 22 relentless years, we held Exxon accountable for enabling privatized Indonesian troops to terrorize villagers in Aceh, Indonesia, all under the guise of "security" for natural gas operations. On the eve of trial, facing the undeniable weight of evidence and global scrutiny, Exxon finally settled, underscoring that persistence can triumph against corporate might.

Currently, we remain fiercely engaged in an 18-year legal struggle against Chiquita. Since 2007, we've sought justice for thousands of Colombian civilians killed by the AUC, a terrorist paramilitary group directly funded by Chiquita near its banana plantations. Last summer, our collective determination achieved a historic victory: a jury awarded $38.2 million to the first nine plaintiffs. Yet Chiquita’s appeal prolongs the agony for victims' families. IRAdvocates will continue fighting—committed fully, until final justice is served.

Yet we consistently advocate for collaboration over litigation. When corporate misconduct emerges, IRAdvocates first seeks dialogue, urging companies to honor their publicly stated commitments and swiftly rectify injustices. Regrettably, corporations often choose costly legal battles over genuine reform, treating human rights policies as mere public relations gestures rather than meaningful commitments.

Take Nestlé and Cargill: despite clear prohibitions against forced child labor in their own policies, both companies spent millions fighting litigation for over 16 years, rather than collaborating with us to end child slavery in cocoa harvesting.

Imagine the progress achievable had these companies redirected resources from legal defenses to real solutions.

Yet amidst these challenges, meaningful collaborations emerge.

As part of its work to address human rights issues, International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) has been involved in advocating for over 250 migrant workers from Bangladesh who were employed at Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd in Malaysia, and who we believed were subject to wrongful labor practices while working at Kawaguchi. As is our practice, when these issues surfaced, we raised our concerns not only with Kawaguchi, but also with certain manufacturers who are Kawaguchi’s downstream customers. One such manufacturer is Sony. To its credit, Sony raised its concerns with Kawaguchi and requested that Kawaguchi promptly implement corrective measures soon after these allegations emerged, and before stopping doing business with Kawaguchi. Sony took meaningful, proactive steps to assist the workers, including providing much-needed financial assistance. IRA applauds Sony for taking a constructive approach toward this situation and is grateful to Sony for its cooperation in this matter.

This case stands as a powerful reminder that positive change is possible when corporations genuinely embrace accountability and collaboration. IRAdvocates applauds Sony’s constructive action, highlighting a path forward where companies uphold human rights sincerely, beyond mere words and empty promises.

IRAdvocates remains resolute and is driven by a powerful vision: a world where human rights are valued above profit, and corporate accountability transforms from aspiration to reality.

When they choose court, take a look at