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Article

17 Oct 2016

Author:
Aisha Dodwell, Global Justice Now

EU Govts. must listen to thousands of European citizens asking them to be actively involved in business & human rights treaty process

This week, a petition from over 90,000 European citizens will be delivered to decision makers across the continent.  These tens of thousands of signatures are demanding that EU leaders take part in the upcoming UN Human Rights Council's session on establishing an international binding treaty that will end the impunity enjoyed by transnational corporations once and for all...[W]e have to make sure that the treaty remains absolutely binding, we must ensure that corporations are not allowed to turn this into a voluntary initiative. We need the treaty to have enforceable laws that oblige all governments to hold their corporations to account for their impacts on people and the planet, wherever in the world they operate. The treaty will also need to establish the personal legal responsibility of company executives, managers and directors in order to ensure that individuals are held accountable for their decisions and the resulting crimes of their companies...Well known for its cosy relationship with corporations, however, the UK has so far refused to take part in this UN treaty process.  We are hoping that they listen to the thousands of people who want to see their government make the most of this opportunity to provide genuine protection for the victims of human rights abuses committed by multinational corporations...