"UN Treaty process on business and human rights. Initial Observations by the International Business Community on a Way Forward", 29 Jun 2015

Human rights are a high priority for the international business community. BIAC, ICC, IOE, and WBCSD, which collectively represent millions of companies around the world...have been engaged in this subject for many years. They endorsed the UN Guiding Principles...and continue to be active in promoting and disseminating the UN Guiding Principles...Against this background BIAC, ICC, IOE, and WBCSD...are committed to constructively engaging in the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG). Within this context, the organisations provide the following initial observations on the UN treaty process...Extensive progress has been achieved over the past four years – the UN treaty process should strengthen the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles...The UN treaty process should address all companies – domestic and multinational, private, public and state-owned – not only multinational enterprises...A potential UN treaty process should build on the UN “protect-respect-remedy” framework and respect the established division of roles between state and companies...The UN treaty process should be consultative and include all stakeholders...The new treaty should focus on real human rights issues...