3-part webinar series: 10 years on: A call to concrete action for a powerful legally binding instrument

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution that created the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on a legally binding instrument on business and human rights. Drawing from our engagement with stakeholders on the binding treaty, the Resource Centre is organising a 3-part webinar series to relay key messages from civil society so they are visible and continue to be taken into account in the treaty process. In partnership with, ActionAid International, Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), Leigh Day, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), the Resource Centre convened a series of three webinars in July, September and October 2024:

• Fostering inter-regional learning: Establishing national frameworks to regulate transnational corporations and safeguard human rights in Africa and Latin America (31 July)
• A shifting corporate accountability landscape: perspectives from regulators, labour, and the climate justice movement (26 September)
• The treaty scope and its legal implications (3 October)

Webinar 1: Fostering inter-regional learning: Establishing national frameworks to regulate transnational corporations and safeguard human rights in Africa and Latin America

31 July 2024 - Also in partnership with Cameroon Diplomatic Mission in Geneva (Africa Friends of the Chair), PODER, ESCR-NET, FIDA-Uganda, MACUA/WAMUA, and Pan-African Lawyers Union.

Session 1: Understanding the challenges and scope

Overview of the Impact of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in Latin America and Africa

• Juana Toledo, Indigenous woman human rights defender from the Republic of Guatemala
• Sabelo Bonginkosi Mnguni, Community activist and national administrator at MACUA in the Republic of South Africa.

Critical issues and challenges within Brazil legislative frameworks governing transnational corporations (TNCs) and human rights

• Fabiana Galera Severo. Federal public defender and former President of the National Human Rights Council of the Republic of Brazil

Session 2: Regulatory frameworks and approaches

Overview of the Escazú Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean

• Javier Palummo, Special rapporteur on economic, social and cultural rights at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council at United Nations

Insights into Brazil's recent legislative developments and regulatory measures concerning TNC

• Thales Coelho, Federal prosecutor. Head of the Business and Human Rights Working Group at Brazilian Federal Prosecution Service

Overview of Africa's Resolution on Business and Human Rights

• Issaka Garba Abdou, Head of Human Rights and Governance department - AU

African countries in regulating TNC activities and promoting responsible business practices

• Victoria de Mell, Rule of Law, Security, Justice and Human Rights Specialist. UNDP, Regional Service Centre for Africa

Session 3: Policy recommendations

• Manoela Roland, Associate Professor at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Coordinator of Homa - Brazilian Institute of Human Rights and Businesses
• Wangari Kinoti, Women’s Rights and Feminist Alternatives Lead - ActionAid International from Republic of Kenya

Webinar 2:  A shifting corporate accountability landscape: perspectives from regulators, labour, and the climate justice movement

Thursday 26 September at 2pm UK / 3pm CET / 9am EST - Register here

Since negotiations on a binding treaty on human rights commenced in 2014, there have been fundamental shifts in the corporate accountability landscape and the wider social, political, and economic context. In the last decade, landmark corporate due diligence regulation has been passed at the regional and national levels. In the same period, the globe has weathered a pandemic, the climate crisis has accelerated, and conflict has deepened, often at the expense of the most vulnerable workers in global supply chains. In this webinar, panellists will provide perspectives on how these changes in the geopolitical context and the regulatory environment should inform the treaty text today.

Keynote speaker

• Lara Wolters, MEP

Panellists

• Sikho Luthango, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
• Todd Brogan, ITUC
• Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina
• Juliette Renaud, Friends of the Earth France

Moderated by:

• Maddalena Neglia, FIDH

Webinar 3: The treaty scope and its legal implications

Thursday 3 October at 1pm UK / 2pm CET / 8am EST- Register here

The scope of the treaty (i.e. transnational corporations and other business enterprises undertaking activities of a transnational character or all companies, including local companies) is a key progress point in the negotiations.

The objective of this webinar featuring academics and legal experts is to demonstrate the legal implications of choosing one or the other option, and how to practically operationalise these options in the treaty. We also want to discuss the issue of definition of TNCs with the panel.

Keynote speaker

• Fernanda Hopenhaym, UN Working Group on BHR

Other speakers and panellists

• Anesu Dera, CALS
• Kinda Mohamadieh, Third World Network
• Rae Lindsey, Clifford Chance
• Thato Gaffane, Lawyers for Human Rights

Moderated by:

• Richard Meeran, Leigh Day