Business and Human Rights: NGOs Call on United Nations to Provide Stronger Protection against Human Rights Violations Committed by Corporations and Businesses

In a joint statement to United Nations (UN) member states Conectas Direitos Humanos (Brazil), the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and a group of NGOs from around the world have called on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) to strengthen the UN Working Group on the issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises (the WG).

At the current 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council states are scheduled to put forward a resolution to renew the mandate of the WG. In the joint letter NGOs call on member states of the HRC to “make the work of the WG more meaningful in the prevention and remediation of human rights abuses by corporations” by strengthening the WG’s focus on “enhancing access to effective remedies” for victims, contributing to a progressive application of international human rights law,” and clarifying the applicability of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in relation to public financial institutions.