Enhancing the International Human Rights system vis-a-vis TNCs and other business enterprises
As a member of the so-called Treaty Alliance, FIAN International stresses the need for a legally binding instrument to protect human rights in the context of business operations.
Ahead of the upcoming first session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (IGWG) towards a Treaty on Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises with regards to Human Rights, the 610-organization Treaty Alliance (TA) releases its second statement. As a member of the Alliance, FIAN International emphasizes a legally binding treaty is urgently needed, and calls on wider civil society to support and engage in the public debate around this process.
Following their first statement in 2013 urging governments to support the passage of a UN Human Rights Council Resolution to establish an IGWG with a mandate to develop the treaty, organizations the world over have come together under the TA umbrella to list a series of demands. FIAN International underlines the treaty should address the needs and realities of people and communities whose human rights have been infringed.
Today’s statement touches upon the processes and scope in and around the elaboration of the treaty, so as to guide towards and foster meaningful progress throughout the upcoming session and future discussions.
The Alliance calls on all States to actively participate in good-faith and constructively with the development of this legally binding instrument, as well as, together with the IGWG, to safeguard their integrity from undue influence by actors from or related to the private sector.
Amongst the recommendations, the TA underlines the treaty should moreover require States to adopt, individually and jointly, legislation and other measures requiring TNCs and other business enterprises to adopt policies and procedures aimed at preventing, stopping and redressing adverse human rights impacts wherever they operate or cooperate.
For more information find the Second Statement here. You can join the movement via the Treaty Alliance website.