UN Treaty on Business and Human rights

Oil polution in Nigeria, asbetos in the US, forced evictions in Zimbabwe: victims of business related human right abuses often face major barriers when they try to get access to remedy. Now there is a unique opportunity to improve prevention of corporate abuse, and to ensure that victims of corporate abuse have adequate access to justice: the UN binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights.

In June 2014, a ground-breaking resolution was adopted by the Human Rights Council that established an Inter-Governmental Working Group (IGWG) to develop an ‘international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’.

SOMO is one of the many NGO’s following the discussions in Geneva and works together with partner organisations advocates for a treaty that will effectively contribute to access to justice and remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuses.