Joining the global movement for a Treaty on human rights and corporate activity

An information and strategy session by the Treaty Alliance
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Workshop
UNIVERSITÉ DE TUNIS EL MANAR, R 107
JOINTLY ORGANIZED WITH CCFD-TERRE SOLIDAIRE/FORUM CITOYEN POUR LA RSE, CIDSE, FRANCISCANS INTERNATIONAL, FIDH, GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO DISMANTLE CORPORATE POWER, POLARIS INSTITUTE, TRANSNATIONAL INSTITUTE (THESE INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE “TREATY ALLIANCE”)

Civil society organizations and social movements around the world struggling against corporate abuse achieved a first victory in June last year when the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 26/9, establishing an Intergovernmental Working Group whose the mandate shall be to elaborate an international legally-binding instrument to regulate the activities of business enterprises. However, there remain important challenges to ensure that a robust treaty ensuring genuine corporate accountability and access to justice will be drafted in a participatory and transparent manner. Indeed, corporate-related abuse continues, access to remedies for victims of corporate crimes remains blatantly insufficient, and in the rush for land and natural resources, social movements and human rights defenders denouncing corporate abuse face increased repression and harassment. Civil society, social movements and affected communities' mobilization is instrumental in the struggle to put people and the planet before profits. In this context, the Treaty Alliance, a coalition of more than 600 NGOs and 400 individuals across the globe seeking corporate accountability and social and environmental justice, hosts an information and strategy workshop directed at all those interested in joining the struggle for a binding Treaty regulating corporate activity.

The aim of this workshop is to inform about the process, challenges and opportunities in the treaty development, and to enable social movements and affected communities to take an active part in the struggle for a binding treaty on human rights and corporate activity. This event will enable to share experiences, create synergies and ultimately to build strategic alliances. Participants will be encouraged to develop activities for mobilisation in their respective regions, to participate in advocacy around the process and content of the treaty discussions, and to remain engaged with the Treaty Alliance.

Speakers include

  • Francesca Restifo (Franciscans International)
  • Rose Trajano (FIDH/PHRA, Philippines)
  • Marion Cadier (FIDH)
  • Alberto Villarreal (Friends of the Earth/Dismantle Corporate Power, Uruguay)

Moderator: Brid Brennan (TNI, Netherlands tbc)