Business has a key role to play in protecting civil society space. In the context of discussions on a binding treaty to prevent human rights abuses by transnational corporations, ISHR and eight national-level groups call for clear attention to the participation and protection of defenders working in the field of business and human rights.
ISHR has engaged in this process since the adoption of the Council’s Resolution 26/9, and the two previous sessions of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. ISHR requested general attention to human rights defenders throughout plenary and panel discussions, focusing on their roles in both the prevention of, and accountability for, human rights violations associated with business activities.
‘This process has prided itself on being focused on victims, especially in the global South. In that regard, we saw the draft elements of the treaty as an important opportunity to react and bring the fairly good conversations which occurred over the last two years to a more practical level,’ says Sarah Brooks, ISHR programme manager. ‘We were therefore rather concerned that these discussions were not adequately reflected in the document provided for negotiation’, she continues.
ISHR and its partners have subsequently conducted an extensive analysis of the text and made suggestions to strengthen it.
‘The potential for the treaty language to advance the recognition and protection of human rights defenders working in the area of corporate accountability is critical. But without some important changes and real political will, we will simply not get there’, Brooks says.
The joint submission, coordinated by ISHR with key national-level partners from a number of regions and available here, highlights the following:
On Wednesday 25 October ISHR will hold two joint side events on human rights defenders and business, one in New York and one in Geneva.
Attendance with UN accreditation only.
Photo: FlickR/ Astrid Westgang