"No more sideshow - Report on the eighth session of the UN open-ended intergovernmental working group on a legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights ", Dec 2022

Since 2014, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva has been negotiating an internationally binding agreement on business and human rights – also known as the UN Treaty. From October 24–28, 2022, the intergovernmental working group on a legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) met for the eighth time. The countries of the global South as well as the major industrialized nations were present at the meeting. New informal proposals by the Ecuadorian Chair caused initial confusion in the negotiations. With the G7’s commitment in June 2022 to an international binding standard, the formation of the ”Friends of the Chair“ group, the U.S. government now co-negotiating, and the prospect of a European Union negotiating mandate, the process has gained new weight and momentum …

The U.S. participated in the negotiations for the second time…The U.S. believes that a less prescriptive approach, in the form of a framework agreement, would be a better option…

The business sector was again represented...calling for business representatives to be at the table in the drafting of the agreement, even though the process is intergovernmental…

Once again, numerous civil society organizations from around the world participated with comments and proposed amendments to the draft text…The demand for direct corporate obligations in the agreement and an international human rights tribunal before which people affected can sue transnational corporations for human rights violations was raised…

In order to achieve real progress in the negotiations, a time and work schedule with an increased frequency of thematically focused meetings between the annual sessions would be necessary. The countries should also set themselves a common goal with regard to the time horizon…