Lacuna magazine is back in 2017 with a special issue on business and human rights:

• In our lead article, Taking human rights and business seriously, Kendyl Salcito talks about her work as a pioneer of human rights impact assessment. She tells us about her investigations; from gold mines in Indonesia to oil fields in Uganda. She explains what doing good human rights work entails, and why she is concerned that such work is the exception rather than the rule in the ‘human rights and business’ world.

• In the Purchasing Power of Public Authorities, Marie Pillon talks explains how a symposium in Greenwich made her reflect on the efforts of public bodies who use their purchasing power to tackle corporate abuses in supply chains. From the city of Madison, in Wisconsin to local councils in Sweden there are organisations using their financial clout to make a difference to the lives of workers in industries like clothing and electronics. But she also examines the challenges to making this change more widespread.

• In Smuggled and Exploited: Human Trafficking and Refugees  Gurpreet Dhaliwal looks at the story of Nadia and Adrian, how they were brought to the UK by their employers’ on ‘tied visas’ and how they become victims of human trafficking. She finds inspiration in charities like the Adavu Project, who are working to help the survivors of trafficking and modern slavery, but finds fault with the UK Parliament for failing to close a ‘loophole’ in the Modern Slavery Act that would have ended the practice of tied visas.

• Finally, in Human Rights and Business: Is the United Nations Helping? James Harrison reflects on his time at the Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. He finds inspiration in the work of dedicated individuals fighting bravely and creatively for change, but leaves the Forum concerned about the role being played by the United Nations. And in his editorial for the edition, James asks whether we should be paying more attention to the actions of inspirational individuals who are making change happen in the human rights and business field, and ensure that we build successfully on their efforts.