Sustainable development: UN expert group calls for
accountability of public and private sectors
GENEVA (16 June 2015) – The United Nations Working Group
on business and human rights today urged the UN system and all its member
states to make globalization inclusive and aligned with human rights, and
called for full accountability of public and private sectors’ activities in
that regard.
The expert’s call comes as a number of key international
negotiations are taking place on sustainable development goals for the world,
development financing and the climate change, as well as a number of policy
talks on trade, finance and investment.
“Today we are at a major crossroads for making sure that
the way the world does business, trade, finance and investment is not at the
cost of human dignity, environmental protection, equality and sustainability,”
said human rights expert Michael Addo during the presentation of the Working
Group’s latest report* to the UN Human Rights Council.
“It is critical to achieve coherent solutions,” the
current head of the expert group said. “That means ensuring accountability of
those public and private actors which have the capacity not only to drive
economic growth, but also to undermine human development.”
A major backdrop to the ongoing debates on sustainable
development is globalization and the increasing role and impact of businesses
on society. Business is increasingly also recognized as a partner in
development, from investing in land, natural resources, infrastructure, health
and technology to providing funding for various development efforts.
“We see in the newly proposed sustainable development
goals that the private sector is envisaged as having a key role. At the same
time, we are concerned that there is not sufficient recognition of the fact
that business activities can also have negative effects on human rights,” the
expert warned.
The Working Group’s report notes that business can affect
the full spectrum of human rights in the context of development, “from
displacement of communities without proper consultation or compensation,
affecting the right to food and life, to pollution affecting the right to clean
water and health.”
The study also points out that while States have a duty
to protect human rights, business has a responsibility not to cause or
contribute to human rights harm, and both have the duty to ensure access to
remedy for victims. “This is set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business
and Human Rights and must be reflected in all frameworks for sustainable
development and economic governance,” Mr. Addo stated.
The expert group’s report defines how organizations
within the UN system could play a role to ensure a more coherent global system,
but in particular stresses the need for States to ensure that their positions
on sustainable development, trade, finance and investment were consistent with
their human rights obligations.
The report presents a range of practical options for
States which include, among others using the UN human rights checklists in
contract negotiations with private investors, as well as ensuring that
investment treaties do not constrain the State’s ability to adopt legitimate
reforms to fulfill the human rights of citizens, and that international financial
institutions’ lending activities do not undermine human rights.
The group of experts also recommends that an increased
role of the private sector in the pursuit of sustainable development goals is
coupled with the necessary accountability mechanisms, including by making
companies report on their human rights impacts.
“In moving forward, all stakeholders must play their
part,” Mr. Addo stressed. “Businesses must take steps to meet the expectation
to respect human rights. States should seize the opportunity to move towards
more coherent approaches in global governance, and ultimately to improve human
rights outcomes in support of sustainable development.”
(*) Read the Working Group’s report to the UN Human
Rights Council (A/HRC/29(28): http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Reports.aspx
ENDS
The Working Group on human rights and transnational
corporations and other business enterprises was established by the UN Human
Rights Council in June 2011. Its five members are: Michael Addo (current Chairperson-Rapporteur),
Ms. Margaret Jungk (Vice Chair), Mr. Pavel Sulyandziga, Mr. Puvan Selvanathan,
and Mr. Dante Pesce. The Working Group is independent from any government or
organization. It reports to the Human Rights Council and to the UN General Assembly.
For more information visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx
The Working Groups are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world.
Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
See the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/Tools.aspx
For additional information and media requests, please
contact Ulrik Halsteen (+41 22 917 9323 / wg-business@ohchr.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent
experts:
Xabier Celaya, Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 /
xcelaya@ohchr.org)
UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify:
http://storify.com/UNrightswire
Check the Universal Human Rights Index:
http://uhri.ohchr.org/en
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar