30 civil society organisations in Latin America & the Caribbean sign joint declaration on the impacts of business activities in the region
History has painfully taught us the dangers of corporate power intertwined with political elites. As such, we note with concern that the rights of vulnerable populations and nature in Latin America and the Caribbean are increasingly affected by the presence of a large number of companies and financial entities operating in the region which do not fulfil their responsibility to protect and promote human rights and care for the environment.
Civil society organisations from across Latin America and the Caribbean which form part of the Plataforma Latinoamericana sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos met prior to the 8th UN Regional Forum on Business and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile, to share our experiences working on the impacts of business on human rights.
In our preparatory forum we addressed the following issues: the impact of extractive companies on human and environmental rights; the lack of complaint and redress mechanisms for financial sector entities; harms linked to agribusiness; the criminalisation and persecution of human rights defenders, mainly communities, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant and peasant communities; the need to improve corporate accountability; and due diligence and the role of the United Nations.
Declaration
Read our full statement and recommendations (Spanish)