UN experts: Corporations must contribute to sustainable
development by respecting human rights
GENEVA (14 July 2015) – The United Nations Working Group
on business and human rights today urged Governments across the world to ensure
that corporations do not undermine sustainable development, and called for
greater transparency and accountability for how businesses address human rights
risks and impacts.
“States must set a clear vision for connecting the
increasing role of the private sector and businesses in development with
accountability and agreed standards for business practices aligned with human
rights,” the independent expert group said in a letter* to lead negotiators as
they enter the final stages of negotiating the ‘Post-2015 Sustainable
Development Agenda.’
Last week, two key outcome documents were made public
after months of negotiations: the draft Action Agenda of the Third
International Conference on Financing for Development, being held in Addis
Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015; and the final draft outcome document for the UN
Summit in New York in September 2015.
“The goals are ambitious, as they must be, calling for ‘a
world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity,’ ‘free of
poverty, hunger, disease and want,’ and ‘free of fear and violence,’” said
Margaret Jungk, who currently heads the Working Group, applauding the Agenda
and its message about the need for all parts of society to contribute.
In their letter, the experts highlight that the draft
outcome documents stress the critical importance of engaging all relevant
stakeholders, including business and the private sector, in implementation of
the new Agenda. However, they caution that business activities can also
undermine respect for human rights if not properly regulated.
“It is critical to ensure that recognition of the
increased role of business in development is coupled with adequate
accountability,” the human rights expert said.
“A simple way of addressing this in the draft outcome
documents would be to reference the UN Guiding Principles on Business on Human
Rights, the authoritative framework to prevent and address adverse human rights
risks and impacts of business activities, agreed to by UN member states in
2011,” Ms. Jungk added.
(*) See letter of the Working Group:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/2015Activities.aspx
END
The Working Group on human rights and transnational
corporations and other business enterprises (also known as the Working Group on
Business and Human Rights) was established by the UN Human Rights Council in
June 2011. Its five members are: Ms. Margaret Jungk (current
Chairperson-Rapporteur), Mr. Puvan Selvanathan (Vice Chair), Michael Addo, Mr.
Dante Pesce and Mr. Pavel Sulyandziga. 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. Special
Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by
the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or
thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are
independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual
capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
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: +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)
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