Geneva, July 10 — The first session of the historic United Nations negotiations towards a treaty on Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises with regards to human rights concluded today, following five days of inspiring talks on the need for a legally binding instrument. Civil society, expert panelists and many States engaged constructively in the negotiations, despite intense EU efforts to derail the process.
During the opening session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) the EU objected to the agenda for the meeting, suggesting last minute changes, and demanded an extension of the IGWG mandate agreed in UN Human Rights Resolution 26/9. The last minute demands, clearly lacking in good faith and contrary to democratic procedure, caused an impasse that was finally overcome when it became clear there was no consensus around the EU proposal.
Given the European Union’s recent position towards Greece in support of the rights of financial institutions along with its decision to protect the rights of Transnational Corporations through the ISDS provisions in the TTIP, it is clearly prioritizing business interests over human rights.
“The Treaty Alliance organizations came to Geneva to call for constructive State engagement and to ensure any future treaty will focus on accountability for TNCs and access to remedy and justice for people affected. With the shameful exceptions of the EU, USA and several other rich countries, the States who were present should be commended for their engagement with this vital process,” said Anne van Schaik, Sustainable Finance Campaigner with Friends of the Earth Europe. “People cannot wait for their rights. With our presence here in Geneva, we are reminding engaged States to stay the course, and insisting that absent or obstructive States get on board. We’re here to remind them that the world is watching!”
“The EU is working more as an ambassador of big corporations than a defender of international human rights law. A clear example of this disturbing position is the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the U.S. and Europe that could contain an investment protection mechanism giving economic interests primacy over human rights,” said Lola Sánchez, Podemos MEP. “But today we are full of hope because democracy can not be stopped. The referendum in Greece has shown that people are rejecting more austerity and are turning their backs on more neoliberal politics”.
“States should now continue meaningful intercessional consultation, particularly with people affected by TNC abuses, to ensure real progress in the next round of negotiations,” said Brid Brennan of the Transnational Institute and the Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity. “As civil society organizations and social movements, present here at the UN, we protest the disruptive behavior of the EU, and we challenge its member states to declare their position on this matter. The wellbeing of millions of people globally who have endured systematic corporate violations of their human rights depend on the IGWG to be able to continue and to fulfill its mandate, despite EU actions,” she added.
The first session of the IGWG on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights convened in Geneva on July 6th to begin the task of elaborating a treaty for business and human rights.
For Media Enquiries please contact:
Anne van Schaik, anne.vanschaik@foeeurope.org +31 6 243 43968
Dominic Renfrey, drenfrey@escr-net.org
Brid Brennan, bridbrennan@tni.org
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Useful links:
- Treaty Alliance website: www.treatymovement.com
- Joint written submission by Friends of the Earth Europe, Brot für die Welt, SOMO, CIDSE IBFAN, IBFAN-GIFA and Global Policy Forum: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IGWG-contribution-FoEE-BftW-GPF-CIDSE-IBFAN-SOMO_July-2015-FINAL.pdf
IBFAN’s oral statements:
- IBFAN’s oral statement – General Comments: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/GIFA-Oral-Statement_GENERAL-COMMENTS1.pdf
- IBFAN’s oral statement on Panel IV – Scope-human rights coverage:http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/GIFA-Oral-Statement_PANEL-IV_HR-COVERAGE.pdf
- IBFAN’s oral statement on Panel V – ETOs: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/GIFA-Oral-Statement_PANEL_V_CONTENT_ETOs.pdf
Oral statements by other organizations delivered on behalf of IBFAN:
- CIDSE’s oral statement on Panel II – Principles: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CIDSE-oral-statement_Principles-1.pdf
- SOMO’s oral statement on Panel III – Scope/coverage of the instrument (TNCs vs all enterprises): http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SOMO-oral-statement-joint-submission-in-Panel-II-on-scope_final.pdf
- CIDSE’s oral statement on Panel IV – Scope/human rights coverage:http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CIDSE-oral-statement_Scope_Rights.pdf
- Friends of the Earth Europe’s oral statement on Panel V – ETOs: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FoEE-and-others_panel-V_ETOs.pdf
- Friends of the Earth Europe’s oral statement on Panel VI – Content: Obligations of TNCs and other business enterprises: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Panel-VI-content-FOEE-with-others.pdf
- SOMO’s oral statement on Panel VII – Content: standards for legal accountability TNCs and what conduct? http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Panel-VII-on-liability-SOMO1.pdf
- SOMO’s oral statement on Panel VIII – Content: Mechanisms for Access to Remedy, including international cooperation: http://www.gifa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Panel-VIII-on-Remedy-SOMO-FOEE-CIDSE-BfdW-IBFAN-GPF.pdf
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