«Il n‘y a pas un monde développé et un monde sous-développé, mais un seul monde mal développé»
Transnational corporations (TNCs) have become major and powerful actors.
The activities of transnational corporations are a source of multiple human rights violations
In many cases, especially when victims are from the Global South, impunity prevails. TNCs are indeed able to evade national jurisdictions because of the unprecedented economic, financial and political power they command, their transnational character, their economic and legal flexibility and the complex structures they use to carry on their activities.
Since the late 90s, the CETIM is firmly committed to ending the impunity of transnational corporations and ensuring access to justice for the victims of their activities. The CETIM supports social movements, trade unions and organizations representing victims and affected communities from the Global South in their efforts to access the UN human rights protection mechanisms. And the CETIM is involved to their sides in the campaign for new binding international norms to end impunity, providing its support for their participation in the negotiations and the presentation of their proposals.
Access to justice for victims of TNCs
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 5th session 11 June – 18 June 2007 Read the CETIM’s written statement The “ethanol partnership”, launched with great pomp and ceremony by the United States and Brazil on 9 March 2007, marks a new phase in the energy strategies of the great powers, just as does the decision by the European […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 4th session March 12–30, 2007 [Excerpt from the statement] However, the Special Representative tends to downplay this approach, suggesting that TNCs are not directly subject to international law and that the most appropriate solution would be for the State, together with businesses and “civil society,” to draw inspiration from a few international […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 4th session March 12–30, 2007 Read the CETIM’s written statement 1. On December 4th 1986, after several years of relentless work, the Declaration on the Right to Development was approved by the vast majority of States (146 out of 155 votes in favour, a dozen abstentions and one opposition, that of the […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 2nd session 18 September – 6 October 2006 [Excerpt from the statement] Furthermore, the Special Representative states that he relied on ‘the assistance and advice of eminent jurists and theorists’ from three countries (§ 5)2. However, the experts in question come from a single legal system and share a common ideological vision […]
Continue readingSUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 58th session – Working Group on TNCs 7 August – 25 August 2006 [Excerpt from the statement] One of the main obstacles is undoubtedly the lack of political will on the part of States to control and regulate the activities of transnational corporations operating on their […]
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