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Supporters of efforts to develop a set of ‘norms’ on acceptable behaviour by multinationals under the auspices of the United Nations were thrown a lifeline last month when the annual meeting of the UN’s Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint a special representative to examine the issue over the next two years.
The meeting of the 53-nation UNCHR in Geneva voted overwhelmingly to accept the proposal, which was supported by European and developing country governments in the face of strong opposition from the US.
The resolution, led by the UK government and passed by 49 votes to three, with one abstention, instructed the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to appoint a representative to look at ‘the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises’. The appointee will submit an interim report to the UNCHR at its meeting next year and a final report in 2007.
The resolution made no specific mention of the norms, but has kept alive the idea that the UN might at some point agree an internationally recognized standard of corporate behaviour, and has been welcomed by civil society and businesses as a compromise that will continue dialogue. However, it will continue to delay substantive progress on the issue.
A UNCHR subcommission drew up draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights two years ago, but the UNCHR has since backtracked in the face of opposition to the norms from business groups and the US administration. A report presented by the UN human rights commissioner to this year’s meeting did not specifically state that a set of norms is desirable, and concluded only that there was ‘growing interest’ in the topic and a need for ‘continued dialogue and consultation’.
However, interested parties on both sides of the fence were positive about the outcome of last month’s meeting. Gary Campkin, international group head at the Confederation of British Industry, which has been critical of the norms, said the decision would ensure a proper debate about business and human rights. ‘These issues are worthy of further examination, and business is very willing to be part of that debate,’ he told EP. ‘The resolution provides a mandate that we in business will be supportive of.’
David Weissbrodt, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s law school and a member of the UN subcommission that drew up the draft norms, welcomed the decision to appoint a special representative as ‘an important step’, while the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights, a group of companies including ABB, Barclays and Hewlett-Packard, said it was a good compromise that meant ‘the norms haven’t gone away’.
Sir Geoffrey Chandler, founder of the Amnesty International Business Group and a strong proponent of the norms, argued the vote ‘kept the show firmly on the road’, but added that the choice of special representative ‘will be critical’.
The meeting of the 53-nation UNCHR in Geneva voted overwhelmingly to accept the proposal, which was supported by European and developing country governments in the face of strong opposition from the US.
The resolution, led by the UK government and passed by 49 votes to three, with one abstention, instructed the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to appoint a representative to look at ‘the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises’. The appointee will submit an interim report to the UNCHR at its meeting next year and a final report in 2007.
The resolution made no specific mention of the norms, but has kept alive the idea that the UN might at some point agree an internationally recognized standard of corporate behaviour, and has been welcomed by civil society and businesses as a compromise that will continue dialogue. However, it will continue to delay substantive progress on the issue.
A UNCHR subcommission drew up draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights two years ago, but the UNCHR has since backtracked in the face of opposition to the norms from business groups and the US administration. A report presented by the UN human rights commissioner to this year’s meeting did not specifically state that a set of norms is desirable, and concluded only that there was ‘growing interest’ in the topic and a need for ‘continued dialogue and consultation’.
However, interested parties on both sides of the fence were positive about the outcome of last month’s meeting. Gary Campkin, international group head at the Confederation of British Industry, which has been critical of the norms, said the decision would ensure a proper debate about business and human rights. ‘These issues are worthy of further examination, and business is very willing to be part of that debate,’ he told EP. ‘The resolution provides a mandate that we in business will be supportive of.’
David Weissbrodt, a professor at the University of Minnesota’s law school and a member of the UN subcommission that drew up the draft norms, welcomed the decision to appoint a special representative as ‘an important step’, while the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights, a group of companies including ABB, Barclays and Hewlett-Packard, said it was a good compromise that meant ‘the norms haven’t gone away’.
Sir Geoffrey Chandler, founder of the Amnesty International Business Group and a strong proponent of the norms, argued the vote ‘kept the show firmly on the road’, but added that the choice of special representative ‘will be critical’.
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