Week of Peoples Mobilisation in Geneva (Switzerland) from 23th to 29th October
#BindingTreaty #StopTNCImpunity
Violations of human rights and the rights of peoples and nature have become an all too common part of transnational corporations’ operations. There are no binding rules for corporations on Human Rights at the international level. That’s why again this year, in coordination with the Treaty Alliance, the Global Campaign is returning to Geneva to advocate directly to UN member states to engage in a process to create a treaty, and to ensure they hear the voices of communities impacted by corporate violations loud and clear. Inside and Outside the UN dozens of delegates from social movements and civil society networks worldwide will participate in the Week of Peoples Mobilisation.
The Second Session of the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) at the Human Rights Council with the mandate to establish a Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights takes place in Geneva from 24th to 28th October. In June 2014, the Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 26/9, which established the mandate of the OEIGWG; a historic achievement after decades of discussions and failed attempts within the United Nations.
In 2015 the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity was present during the First Meeting of the OEIGWG, and organised several activities to pressure governments to engage with the process of building a Treaty with binding rules for Transnational Corporations in respect of human rights. A legally binding Instrument is essential for two dimensions of the Global Campaign’s work: to end the impunity of transnational corporations that violate human rights, and to address their increasing influence at the national, regional and international level without the implementation of accountability mechanisms.
Remember #OccupyUNSquare 2015?
Activities of the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity
- Inside the UN: we are planning activities at the Palais des Nations, including side events and press conferences, in addition to following negotiations closely and direct advocacy to member states to ensure that they hear the voices of impacted communities loud and clear. The Side Events we are organising as Global Campaign are:
- Outside the UN: we will once again occupy the UN Square (Place des Nations), in front of the Palais des Nations, in coordination with Swiss social movements and organisations.
If you are not attending the Week of Peoples Mobilisation you can follow our activities on our Storify (coming soon), Facebook and Twitter, as well as participate in some sessions virtually by streaming (more information coming soon).
For more details contact:
m.vargas @ tni.org
campaign @ stopcorporateimpunity.org
Contact for the press: soltrumbovila @ tni.org
Why a Week of Peoples Mobilisation? The need to confront the Architecture of Impunity:
Between transnational corporations, states and peoples, there is an undeniable asymmetry. With the complicity of states claiming the need to “attract investment”, transnational corporations have covered themselves with a solid armour of free trade and investment protection agreements and their respective sanctioning mechanisms. Institutions such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) constitute clear examples of the privatisation of justice, as well as any ISDS mechanism.
In coordination with the Treaty Alliance, the Global Campaign will work in Geneva to advocate directly to UN member states to engage in a process to create a treaty, and to ensure they hear the voices of communities impacted by corporate violations loud and clear.
More information:
8 points: Written Contribution of the Global Campaign to the first session of the IGWG (2015)
UN information on the Second Session of OEIGWG
Programme of work for the Second Session (draft proposed by the Chair)
UN information on the Mandate of the OEIGWG
Website of the Treaty Alliance
Other related mobilisations:
June 2016, Geneva: Challeging Corporate Crime and Impunity: affected communities seek Justice
May 2016, Geneva: Peoples Mobilisation vs. Corporate Impunity converge at the UN
