On April 17, 2025, Cooperation Canada released the Civil 7 Communiqué, following a civil society summit in Ottawa with numerous groups from around the world. Above Ground was one of the participating groups.
The Civil 7 Communiqué, endorsed by civil society partners from across the globe, calls on G7 leaders to recognize that there can be no security and no just economic progress without global cooperation. It recommends that G7 leaders action policies around four key thematic areas: climate, energy and environment; economic justice; humanitarian action and peace; and sustainable development.
Of particular note for Above Ground’s work, the communiqué includes a section recommending that G7 countries “ensure business and human rights accountability and action to eliminate child and forced labour.” This includes by “adopt[ing] and enforc[ing] mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, while protecting human rights defenders. This should include accelerated implementation of the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”. See here our work on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation.
Canada currently holds the G7 presidency and will host the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta in June.