UN Intergovernmental Working Group releases Third Draft of proposed binding treaty on business and human rights; incl. commentaries

In June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution drafted by Ecuador and South Africa to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. An Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) was established with the mandate to elaborate this instrument.

The first draft of the proposed treaty was released in 2018 and revised in 2019.

On 6 August 2020, the IGWG released the Second Revised Draft.

On 17 August 2021, the IGWG released the Third Revised Draft. For an unofficial summary of the third draft (produced by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre) see here.

In this story, download the Third Revised Draft and access expert analysis on the latest draft.

Third Revised Draft (2021)

Traducción no oficial del Tercer borrador (2021) - CIEDH-ESP

OHCHR's unofficial comparison of 3rd and 2nd revised drafts in track changes

Commentary from the ENNHRI to the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

Date:

1 Nov 2021

Content Type:

Article

Statement on the Third Revised Draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights by European Network of National Human Rights institutions.
La Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme appelle la France et l'UE à s'impliquer substantiellement dans les négociations autour d'un projet de traité "entreprises et droits de l'homme"

Date:

29 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: français
Trade Unions provide text proposals on Third Revised Draft of proposed binding treaty on business & human rights

Date:

28 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

"Joint trade union proposals for textual amendments to the third revised draft of a legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises."
Third Revised Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights: Comments and Recommendations

Date:

25 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights by Ben Grama, Tilburg University, Antoine Duval, T.M.C. Asser Instituut, Annika van Baar, VU University Amsterdam & Lucas Roorda, Utrecht University (The Netherlands)
Commentary: CIDSE contribution to the 7th session of the UN binding Treaty

Date:

22 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

CIDSE's analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Written contribution by FIAN International on the Third Revised Draft of the Legally Binding Instrument (LBI) on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

Date:

22 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

FIAN International's contribution on the Third revised Draft of a proposed binding treaty on business and human rights
From the Supply Chain Act towards an international Level Playing Field

Date:

21 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Statement of the Treaty Alliance Germany on the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
MISEREOR kritisiert Weigerung der EU, sich an Verhandlungen über geplantes UN-Abkommen zu beteiligen

Date:

21 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: Deutsch
Global: Confederación Sindical de las Américas cuestionó tercer borrador de Tratado Vinculante por dejar de lado en su ámbito de aplicación las cadenas de suministro

Date:

21 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: español
Analysis of the Third Draft of the UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights

Date:

20 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Prof. Markus Krajewski's analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Improving Accountability and Access to Remedy for Business and Human Rights Abuses: A submission from OHCHR on the Third Revised Draft of the legally binding instrument

Date:

18 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) draws attention to its work on accountability and access to remedy for consideration by the UN Intergovt. Working Group on a proposed treaty.
Intl. Organisation of Employers, Business at OECD & BusinessEurope comment on Third Revised Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights

Date:

18 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

IOE, Business at OECD (BIAC) and BusinessEurope position on the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Stellungnahme der Treaty Alliance Deutschland zum dritten überarbeiteten Entwurf für ein UN-Abkommen zu Wirtschaft & Menschenrechten

Date:

11 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: Deutsch
Key recommendations by Feminists for a Binding Treaty on the Third Revised Draft

Date:

5 Oct 2021

Content Type:

Article
Commentary: Third draft of UN business and human rights treaty launched on 17 August 2021

Date:

18 Sep 2021

Content Type:

Article

Lauren Chaplin's (from Leigh Day) analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Statement of the Global Campaign on the Third Revised Draft of the Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights

Date:

7 Sep 2021

Content Type:

Article

Statement of the Global Campaign on the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Commentary: The Third Revised Draft of a Treaty on Business and Human Rights: Modest Steps Forward, But Much of the Same

Date:

3 Sep 2021

Content Type:

Article

Carlos López's (from the International Commission of Jurists) analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Commentary: UN sharpens draft treaty on business and human rights

Date:

31 Aug 2021

Content Type:

Article

Antony Crockett & Alisha Matthew's (from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP) analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Commentary: The New Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights: How Best to Optimize the Incentives?

Date:

24 Aug 2021

Content Type:

Article

Professor Doug Cassel's analysis of the third revised draft of the proposed UN treaty on business and human rights.
Dritter überarbeiteter Entwurf für UN Treaty veröffentlicht

Date:

23 Aug 2021

Content Type:

Article

Available languages: Deutsch
Just released: Third Revised Draft Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights

Date:

18 Aug 2021

Content Type:

Article

The International Organisation of Employers' concerns on the Third Revised Draft of a proposed treaty on business and human rights.

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UN Intergovernmental Working Group releases Third Draft of proposed binding treaty on business and human rights; incl. commentaries

Further Reading

Timeline

Commentary from the ENNHRI to the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

La Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme appelle la France et l'UE à s'impliquer substantiellement dans les négociations autour d'un projet de traité "entreprises et droits de l'homme"

Trade Unions provide text proposals on Third Revised Draft of proposed binding treaty on business & human rights

Third Revised Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights: Comments and Recommendations

Commentary: CIDSE contribution to the 7th session of the UN binding Treaty

Written contribution by FIAN International on the Third Revised Draft of the Legally Binding Instrument (LBI) on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

From the Supply Chain Act towards an international Level Playing Field

MISEREOR kritisiert Weigerung der EU, sich an Verhandlungen über geplantes UN-Abkommen zu beteiligen

Global: Confederación Sindical de las Américas cuestionó tercer borrador de Tratado Vinculante por dejar de lado en su ámbito de aplicación las cadenas de suministro

Analysis of the Third Draft of the UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights

Improving Accountability and Access to Remedy for Business and Human Rights Abuses: A submission from OHCHR on the Third Revised Draft of the legally binding instrument

Intl. Organisation of Employers, Business at OECD & BusinessEurope comment on Third Revised Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights

Stellungnahme der Treaty Alliance Deutschland zum dritten überarbeiteten Entwurf für ein UN-Abkommen zu Wirtschaft & Menschenrechten

Key recommendations by Feminists for a Binding Treaty on the Third Revised Draft

Commentary: Third draft of UN business and human rights treaty launched on 17 August 2021

Statement of the Global Campaign on the Third Revised Draft of the Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights

Commentary: The Third Revised Draft of a Treaty on Business and Human Rights: Modest Steps Forward, But Much of the Same

Commentary: UN sharpens draft treaty on business and human rights

Commentary: The New Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights: How Best to Optimize the Incentives?

Dritter überarbeiteter Entwurf für UN Treaty veröffentlicht

Just released: Third Revised Draft Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights