Developments in Geneva on the UN business and human rights treaty negotiations.
In October 2017, countries from around the world came together in Geneva for the meeting of the Human Right Council of the United Nations The Human Right Council of the United Nations established the open-ended inter-governmental working group (IGWG) in June 2014 to develop an ‘international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’. The meeting in Geneva was the third session of this working group. to negotiate the text of a new international treaty to protect human rights against corporate human rights abuses. It was a historic opportunity to improve prevention of corporate abuse and to ensure that victims of corporate abuse have adequate access to justice.
Removing Barriers to Justice
The main purpose of these negotiations was to elaborate on the draft elements of the treaty. SOMO is one of the many NGO’s that followed the discussions in Geneva and worked together with partner organizations advocates for a treaty that will effectively contribute to access to justice and remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuses. On this page, you will find the daily updates of the negotiations that took place between 23-27 October, 2017.
See updates from these negotiations below. Useful links, summaries and statements are found at the bottom of this page
Negotiations Day 5: October 27, 2017
#BindingTreaty Final panel on the voices of the victims. Live now:https://t.co/uagEGnZMjh pic.twitter.com/RlYJH0KCnX
— LAW (@LegalActionWW) 27 oktober 2017
Negotiations Day 4: October 26, 2017
Read the summary of day 4 here.
@TreatyAlliance @StopTNCimpunity Pls come to @FIANista side event today 1.30 room 27 on #TNCs impact on #righttofood and #foodsystems
— Daniel Fyfe (@FyfeDaniel) 26 oktober 2017
For soundbite summary of #bindingtreaty negotiations @UNGeneva up until today, see: https://t.co/gSaRJeD5Jg @TreatyAlliance
— Mariëtte v Huijstee (@Mariette_v_H) 26 oktober 2017
Negotiations Day 3: October 25, 2017
Read the summary of day 3 here.
Nice and simple quote from prof. @Davebil36 @UNGeneva on accountability gap: “legal problems, need legal solutions” hence: #bindingtreaty pic.twitter.com/2XJ1KDuJgt
— Mariëtte v Huijstee (@Mariette_v_H) 24 oktober 2017
@Mariette_v_H @SOMO at book launch Building a Treaty on Business & Human Rights: access 2 remedy in #BindingTreaty should be victim centered pic.twitter.com/FmgLPZv1C9
— Lydia de Leeuw (@LydiaDeLeeuw) 25 oktober 2017
#UNOG @KhalisahKhalid2 speaking on International Financial Institutions. #BindingTreaty must address IFI’s immunity from legal action pic.twitter.com/5RUzAL24vR
— Friends of the Earth (@FoEint) 25 oktober 2017
.@EU_ONUGeneva wants #BindingTreaty to apply to all enterprises but usually asks for the exact opposite in EU laws. #StopCorporateAbuse! pic.twitter.com/GHBrz2y9KC
— Friends of the Earth (@FoEint) 24 oktober 2017
Gaat nieuw verdrag ervoor zorgen dat bedrijven niet meer weg komen met arbeidsrechtenschendingen? #BindingTreaty https://t.co/OybdqdCsV2 pic.twitter.com/4iD40qHbsd
— CNV Internationaal (@CNV_Internat) 25 oktober 2017
TODAY! The cost of impunity: The cross-regional fight of affected communities & #humanrightsdefenders for effective remedies #bindingtreaty pic.twitter.com/KcCunma7Ys
— Treaty Alliance (@TreatyAlliance) 25 oktober 2017
Negotiations Day 2: October 24, 2017
Read the summary of day 2 here.
..with a lot of questions for clarification on elements of #bindingtreaty, but it is a start @EU_UNGeneva [2/2]
— Mariëtte v Huijstee (@Mariette_v_H) 24 oktober 2017
UPDATE from the #bindingtreaty negotiations @UNGeneva: @EU_UNGeneva change in approach: now engaging on substance of proposals! [1/2]
— Mariëtte v Huijstee (@Mariette_v_H) 24 oktober 2017
Good news : for #UNday we hear for the 1st time @EU_UNGeneva engaging deeply on substance on the #BindingTreaty on Business & #HumanRights pic.twitter.com/H4A0Qb3p2n
— Michel Cermak (@Mich_ka) 24 oktober 2017
Negotiations Day 1: October 23, 2017
Read a summary of day 1 here.
Watch and read the statement on October 23, made by CIDSE, on behalf of Brot für die Welt, CCFD, Terre Solidaire, Entraide et Fraternité, Global Policy Forum, MISEREOR and SOMO.
Read the Blog Post “Negotiations Begin Today for Transnational Corporate Accountability Treaty” from CIEL, here.
Voluntary standards have not been sufficient to stop impunity & ensure access to remedies” underlines @FIANista. #BindingTreaty
— Manon Aubry (@M_Aubry_) 23 oktober 2017
The #BindingTreaty brings an opportunity to bring Human Rights to conflict zones @ESCRNet pic.twitter.com/tbAaxbEVPy
— Eugenia Lopez (@elpezuribe) 23 oktober 2017
Member of European Parliament to UN: the EP supports the #BindingTreaty
If the EU rep. here does not support it, he doesn’t represent us pic.twitter.com/2M5iA4gFL6
— Business&HumanRights (@TTIP_Be) 23 oktober 2017
Two EU voices clash over the #BindingTreaty on corporations, as EU MP @LolaPodemos expresses Prlmt’s firm support. 1 represents EU citizens. pic.twitter.com/XIgMev0my5
— Adrien Le Louarn (@ALeLouarn_FIDH) 23 oktober 2017
#BindingTreaty negotiations: constructive attitude of @BrazilUNGeneva that recalls the complementarity between the UNGPs & a #BindingTreaty pic.twitter.com/ODSSORrt3R
— Manon Aubry (@M_Aubry_) 23 oktober 2017
“Gender isnt a small issue that you can put on a side,it is the core.States must factor that in for a #BindingTreaty #Feminist4BindingTreaty pic.twitter.com/B74fmzsVLR
— Alex del Rey (@Alex_delrey) 23 oktober 2017
Indonesian @IGJ2012 tells stories of #HumanRights + #Environment impacts from #Trade & #Investment system, at #BindingTreaty talks in Geneva pic.twitter.com/nof1GdqQrE
— Lydia de Leeuw (@LydiaDeLeeuw) 23 oktober 2017
.@EU_UNGeneva does not formally oppose program in order to be constructive
Adopted!
Thanks EU!
Now let’s get to work for a #BindingTreaty ! https://t.co/Fj7JDMYTyL— Business&HumanRights (@TTIP_Be) 23 oktober 2017
Blog: UN treaty on business and human rights: An historic opportunity to ensure effective remedy for victims. https://t.co/v3x8TMZtlL #BHRRC
— SOMO (@SOMO) 23 oktober 2017
There is time to discuss the concerns of the @EU_UNGeneva during the sessions. Let’s get into it! @NorwayinGeneva @FranceONUGeneve
— Treaty Alliance (@TreatyAlliance) 23 oktober 2017
Negotiations for a #BindingTreaty to #StopCorporateAbuse due to start. Will #EU states support civil society? @TreatyAlliance pic.twitter.com/Ar545SOOwR
— Friends of the Earth (@FoEint) 23 oktober 2017
October, 22 2017
Read summary of the night before the start of the negotiations here
We’re so excited! Next week negotations start on historic #BindingTreaty to #StopCorporateAbuse. Sign the statement: https://t.co/RNzeJ1rZep
— SOMO (@SOMO) 18 oktober 2017
Summaries
Read a summary of day 4
Read a summary of day 3
Read a summary of day 2
Read a summary of day 1
Read summary of the night before the negotiations here
Useful links
Treaty Alliance – Global movement for a binding treaty on business and human rights. Here you can find official documents, statements, studies, opinions and background information.
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre – Live Twitter feed, related statements and articles, a blog and more.
European Coalition for Corporate Justice
International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Peoples mobilisation – Campaign to stop corporate impunity, mobilisation and more.
Oral and Written Statements
Photo: United Nations
Statement on access to justice, effective remedy and guarantees of non-repetition.
Letter to the Dutch government to commit to the (process of coming to a) Binding Treaty
