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The vexed question of whether the United Nations should develop a set
of binding ‘norms’ for the behaviour of multinational corporations has
been passed to a man who is a firm proponent of corporate
responsibility.
John Ruggie, a Harvard professor who was one of the main architects of the UN Global Compact, has been appointed as special UN representative to examine human rights and transnational corporations during the next two years. His job is to try to come up with a way forward or, alternatively, declare the norms unworkable.
A subcommission of the UN Commission on Human Rights drew up draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights two years ago. However, the UNCHR has since backtracked in the face of opposition from business groups and the US government.
Now that he has been appointed, Ruggie is to present initial views and recommendations to the UNCHR at its 62nd session next year. He will deliver a final report in 2007.
Ruggie, who was a UN assistant secretary-general from 1997 to 2001, has long been a supporter of CSR. In March 2004 he told a conference he was unhappy with the ‘imbalanced system of global rule-making’ by which corporations benefit from international trade rules but have to meet few environmental and social obligations in return.
‘Rules that favour global market expansion have become more robust and enforceable ... but rules intended to promote equally valid social concerns, be they labour standards, human rights ... or poverty reduction, have not kept pace,’ he said.
Sir Geoffrey Chandler, founder of the Amnesty International business group, said Ruggie had been given an enormously important task, and should take a bold line with his recommendations. ‘It is no exaggeration to say that he has been entrusted with a task whose outcome could influence the future of capitalism,’ he said.
‘He will be the focus of intense and conflicting lobbying, and the temptation to fudge the outcome will be great. To do so would be a disaster.’
John Ruggie, a Harvard professor who was one of the main architects of the UN Global Compact, has been appointed as special UN representative to examine human rights and transnational corporations during the next two years. His job is to try to come up with a way forward or, alternatively, declare the norms unworkable.
A subcommission of the UN Commission on Human Rights drew up draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights two years ago. However, the UNCHR has since backtracked in the face of opposition from business groups and the US government.
Now that he has been appointed, Ruggie is to present initial views and recommendations to the UNCHR at its 62nd session next year. He will deliver a final report in 2007.
Ruggie, who was a UN assistant secretary-general from 1997 to 2001, has long been a supporter of CSR. In March 2004 he told a conference he was unhappy with the ‘imbalanced system of global rule-making’ by which corporations benefit from international trade rules but have to meet few environmental and social obligations in return.
‘Rules that favour global market expansion have become more robust and enforceable ... but rules intended to promote equally valid social concerns, be they labour standards, human rights ... or poverty reduction, have not kept pace,’ he said.
Sir Geoffrey Chandler, founder of the Amnesty International business group, said Ruggie had been given an enormously important task, and should take a bold line with his recommendations. ‘It is no exaggeration to say that he has been entrusted with a task whose outcome could influence the future of capitalism,’ he said.
‘He will be the focus of intense and conflicting lobbying, and the temptation to fudge the outcome will be great. To do so would be a disaster.’
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