"UN Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights progressing", 13 Mar 2017

Last week in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council, a treaty for transnational corporations and human rights was once more on the agenda.  Although there was just a presentation of the report of the second session of the Intergovernmental working group (IGWG), it was an important step towards the third session of negotiations, due to take place in October 2017, when delegates will discuss a first draft of the treaty...Representatives of Friends of the Earth International were in Geneva once more to share the concerns and demands of civil society.  Days after the first anniversary of Berta Cáceres’ murder they gave a timely reminder to states that urgent action is needed around the criminalization of and violence perpetrated against human rights and environmental defenders protecting their rights and territories from corporate grabs...It was encouraging to hear support for the Treaty process from many developing countries...Unlike last year, the EU thanked the IGWG Chair for the report on its written statement....2017 should see stronger mobilization of all sectors pushing for solid negotiations at the IGWG on drafting the elements and structure of this new UN binding Treaty...