Change The Law Limited was founded in 2003 and works to contribute to the observance throughout the world of human rights as set out in the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (UDHR).  The focus is on the change and progress, and the influence on international policies and international legal systems on human rights, business and human rights, United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs), corporate sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance factors.


Linda Wood is a Director of Change The Law,  As a Consultant, she has worked on the drafting of two parts of Acts of Parliament for the UK Government, including the  agreement of part of the Equality Act 2010 for the UK government.

Linda attended the UN in Geneva for the 1st Business & Human Rights Forum in December 2012 and met with the FCO from the UK government.   Linda was  invited by the FCO and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to the launch of the UK government's national action plan (NAP) on business and human rights  and the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) in September 2013.   

The launch was attended by John Ruggie, the architect and builder of the UNGPs, and the Former Foreign Secretary, William Hague.  Linda spoke with both John Ruggie, and asked William Hague whether the voluntary company reporting on the UNGP’s would be made a legal requirement.  The launch was held at the Institute of Directors, in London, UK.

Since the launch of the UK government's NAP on 4 September 2013, law in the area of human rights has increased at an amazing rate.  The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, (CSDDD) has been approved by the EU Parliament for all 27 EU member states, the final approval will be on 24 May 2024 at the EU Council meetings. 

The Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group Legally Binding Instrument (OEIGWG LBI) on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights has started and is now in its 10th session this year.  Progress is being made and there is publication of the roadmap leading to the 10th session in October 2024 .

In 2015 Linda attended a series of workshops with the UK’s government Department for BEIS and the FCO, business, civil society, academia and government to review the UK Government's national action plan on business and human rights and the UNGP’s.


The Director, Linda's  experience includes;

  • More than 30 years’ experience in Human Rights, Climate Change & Green Policies.
  • More than 12 years’ experience in United Nations Guiding Principles, Business and Human Rights, the Supply Chain, Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDG's), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
  • Visiting Fellow to the Global Sustainability Institute, focusing on the UN Guiding Principles human rights embedding into Business Practice and linked to the Sustainability Development Goals, 2018-2021.
  • Linda is on the Legal Committee for Peace Brigade International, since 2013.
  • Working with the United Nations Association, UK, 1990 -1995.


The Director, Linda has attended;

  • The UN 50th Anniversary at Westminster Hall, London, UK.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu gave the keynote Address in 1995.

  • The UN 60th Anniversary at Central Hall, Westminster, London, UK, Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General, gave the keynote address.  On 31 January 2006, Kofi Annan outlined his vision for a comprehensive and extensive reform of the UN.

  • The UN 70th Anniversary at Central Hall, Westminster, London, UK.   Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary-General, gave the keynote address where the first UN Secretary-General was elected 70 years previously, February 2016.

  • The first in 2012 and all subsequent United Nations Forums on Business and Human Rights, in person and virtually.

History

US Supreme Court, in 2004, Linda worked on research with Professor Thomas Speedy Rice on the Brief to the US Supreme Court to abolish the execution of juveniles on death row with four other researchers. The Brief was for the Human Rights Committee of The Bar of England And Wales, Human Rights Advocates, Human Rights Watch, and The World Organisation for Human Rights USA as amici curiae in support of the Respondent.  The US Supreme Court ruled that the execution of juvenile killers is unconstitutional. Writing for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy found the punishment was unconstitutionally cruel under the Eighth Amendment.  This was amended to abolish the execution of those who were under the age of 18 years at the time they committed their crime in the USA.  Seventy-two people who were juveniles at the time they committed their crime, were taken off death row as a result.  This has set a precedent for all those who are under the age of 18 years when they commit their crime in the USA.


Membership

Change The Law Limited is a member of;

  •  The International Bar Association (IBA)