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Article

10 Oct 2017

Author:
Michael Ineichen, International Service for Human Rights

"UNGA72 | Corporate responsibility to respect human rights requires supporting human rights defenders, say UN experts"

In his new report to the UN General Assembly, Special Rapporteur...spells out what States, businesses and investors must urgently do to better safeguard... defenders...and deplores that defenders are ‘suffering attacks by overpowering business interests’ due to a lack of State action to protect them. The second report, by the Working Group on business and human rights, focuses on access to remedy. Special Rapporteur is ‘appalled by the number of attacks and threats facing defenders’ who seek to hold States, businesses and investors accountable...‘Excessive favouring of business interests’ allied with ‘increasing crackdowns... lead[s] to...denial of local populations’ needs...in favour of short-term profits... [Rapporteur cites Resource Centre's] findings...[that there were] 450 [such] attacks globally in 2015-2016 alone... The Working Group considers...business responsibility to respect human rights entails ‘a positive obligation to support a safe and enabling environment for...defenders,’ which in turn requires consultation with defenders...[S]ome positive efforts to express business support for strengthening the protection of defenders [were] noted...[Rapporteur made] [r]ecommendations to States to adopt legislation for mandatory due diligence, for public disclosure of information about corporate structures...[and] national action plans...to protect defenders...; Business and investors are called on to include an analysis of the situation of civic freedoms and...defenders in their impact assessments, and ensure policy commitments reflecting...role ...and risks faced by...defenders.