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See also the following sections of this website:

• UN Draft Human Rights Principles for Business / UN Working Group on Transnational Corporations
• International standards & guidelines: United Nations, ILO & OECD

United Nations reports:

Latest text of draft United Nations "Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights" [this latest text was agreed by the Working Group on Transnational Corporations (of the U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) at its July-Aug. 2002 meeting; the draft will be discussed again at the next session of the Working Group/Sub-Commission in July-Aug. 2003] (Working Group on Transnational Corporations, U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Aug. 2002)

United Nations draft human rights principles for business: Human Rights Principles and Responsibilities for Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises - With Commentary on the Principles (Working group on the working methods and activities of transnational corporations, U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 3 June 2002 for discussion July/Aug. 2002)

• Introduction to the principles (24 May 2002 for discussion July/Aug. 2002)

• U.N. Sub-Commission decision at its July/Aug. 2002 meeting to continue discussion of the draft principles at its 2003 session: El Hadji Guisse, Sub-Commission Expert, said...A member of the Group, Mr. Weissbrodt, had been asked to draw up a set of standards for transnational corporations. The code of practice had been discussed widely and received the support of non-governmental organizations and members of the Sub-Commission itself. It had been decided that it would be best to consider the document next year. It was clear when reading the document that the text was different from voluntary codes of practice, since the document contained compulsory and obligatory standards. In the next session, the impact of transnational corporations on the enjoyment of human rights would be considered as well as the code of practice outlined by Mr. Weissbrodt. This would include sections on pharmaceutical transnational corporations and issues of patents. (U.N. press release, U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 8 Aug. 2002)

Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights: Progress report submitted by J. Oloka-Onyango and Deepika Udagama (United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 2 July 2001)

Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights (preliminary report by J. Oloka-Onyango and Deepika Udagama, members of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 15 June 2000)

• UN Human Rights Commissioner Responds to the WTO (Someshwar Singh, Third World Network, 29 Aug. 2000)

• World Trade Organization Blasted (Reuters, 11 Aug. 2000)

Intellectual property rights and human rights: Report of the Secretary-General (United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 14 June 2001)

• {···español: Derechos de propiedad intelectual y derechos humanos: Informe del Secretario General}

Other materials:

2002:

Oral statement [by Amnesty International, to the U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights] on the working methods and activities of transnational corporations - Amnesty International takes the floor today to unequivocally support the process of developing the "Human Rights Principles and Responsibilities for Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises" (Amnesty International, 1 Aug. 2002)

Statement by Human Rights Watch to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’ Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations -...many companies still argue that they do not bear any responsibility for human rights in the places where they trade, invest, and operate. In this context, Human Rights Watch sees the development of the "Human Rights Principles and Responsibilities for Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises" by the Working Group as a very important step in addressing complicity of multinational enterprises in human rights violations. (Human Rights Watch, 1 Aug. 2002)

Statement by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights - Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations -...The Lawyers Committee strongly endorses the draft Responsibilities [draft document specifying the Responsibilities of TNCs and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights] (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 1 Aug. 2002)

Latest text of draft United Nations "Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights" [this latest text was agreed by the Working Group on Transnational Corporations (of the U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) at its July-Aug. 2002 meeting; the draft will be discussed again at the next session of the Working Group/Sub-Commission in July-Aug. 2003] (Working Group on Transnational Corporations, U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Aug. 2002)

• [U.N.] Sub-Commission adopts measures on economic, social and cultural rights; prevention of discrimination; other issues - In a resolution (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/L.17)...adopted without a vote [on 14 Aug. 2002], the Sub-Commission requested that the draft norms on responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights be widely circulated; recommended that the relevant working group and the Sub-Commission continue efforts to explore possible mechanisms for implementing the draft norms, such as the use of the norms as a basis for determining the purchase of goods and services from and the partnerships developed with transnational corporations, and the establishment of a group of experts, a special rapporteur or a working group to receive information and undertake effective measures with regard to human rights violations or abuses committed by transnational corporations and other enterprises; and invited members of the working group and in particular the authors of the commentary on the norms on responsibilities to continue working on the commentary so that it might serve as a reference for the practical implementation and further development of the draft norms. (United Nations, 14 Aug. 2002)

Indigenous peoples' permanent sovereignty over natural resources - Working paper by Erica-Irene A. Daes, former Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (Erica-Irene A. Daes, document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 30 July 2002)

Statement by Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the opening of the 54th session of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights - [section of statement entitled] "Business and human rights" - I know the Sub-Commission and its Working Group on the working methods and activities of transnational corporations has worked hard to finalize what are provisionally called the 'Human Rights Principles and Responsibilities for Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises'. I think that the Sub-Commission can make a significant contribution to the framework for understanding the human rights responsibilities of corporations and I wish you well for the successful completion of this important set of principles. (Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 29 July 2002)

Caste and Descent-Based Discrimination - Written statement submitted by Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch, document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 2 July 2002)

Report of the Workshop on Indigenous Peoples, Private Sector Natural Resource, Energy and Mining Companies and Human Rights - Geneva, 5-7 December 2001 - Chairperson-Rapporteur: Mr. Wilton Littlechild (document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 17 June 2002)

The concept and practice of affirmative action - Final report submitted by Mr. Marc Bossuyt, Special Rapporteur (document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 17 June 2002)

The question of the trade, carrying and use of small arms and light weapons in the context of human rights and humanitarian norms - Working paper submitted by Ms. Barbara Frey (Barbara Frey, document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 30 May 2002)

Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Elimination of the Exploitation of Child Labour [replies received from Cyprus, Germany, Guatemala] (U.N. Secretary-General, document for U.N. Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 17 May 2002)

2001:

Statement by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’ Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 2 Aug. 2001)

RIGHTS: NGOs Back UN Call for Globalisation Impact Study: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) applaud the decision of a United Nations body to urge a detailed study of the effects of globalisation and certain trade agreements on human rights. (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 20 Aug. 2001)

U.N. Sub-Commission resolution 2001/3: The effects of the working methods and activities of transnational corporations on the enjoyment of human rights [extending for 3 years the mandate of the Working Group on transnational corporations] (United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 15 Aug. 2001)

U.N. Sub-Commission resolution 2001/5: Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights (United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 15 Aug. 2001)

Subcommission discusses plans for Social Forum: The [United Nations] Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights this afternoon discussed preparations for its Social Forum with a group of high-level experts debating what should be the main topics of the meeting which is tentatively scheduled for next year. Jose Bengoa, a Subcommission Expert and the Special Rapporteur for the Social Forum, explained that the Commission on Human Rights this year had authorized the Subcommission to hold a Social Forum next year, which, among other objectives, would focus on globalization, free trade, and threats to poor countries in the labour markets. (United Nations, 13 Aug. 2001)

• {···français: La Sous-Commission des droits de l'homme tient une réunion préparatoire de son «Forum social»} 

IMF Not Taking into Account Human Rights Issues (Gustavo Capdevila, Dawn [Pakistan], 13 Aug. 2001)

World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund respond to [United Nations] Subcommission report on globalization [which contended that the rules of international trade and economic regimes did not show sufficient respect for human rights standards] (United Nations, 8 Aug. 2001)

[United Nations] Subcommission continues debate on role of international financial institutions in promoting human rights (United Nations, 8 Aug. 2001)

DRUGS: Study Presented To UN Calls For More Human Rights Focus - International economic agreements, including those covering intellectual property rights, should focus more on the issue of human rights and not bar policies ensuring access to medicine at affordable prices, said a study presented to the UN Subcommission on Human Rights yesterday. (UN Wire, 8 Aug. 2001)

Rights jurists for sui generis systems on pharmaceutical IPRs [intellectual property rights]: The two jurists, Mr. J.Oloka-Onyango (Uganda) and Ms. Deepika Udagama (Sri Lanka), as UN Special Rapporteurs, have asked WTO member states to come out with a “specific and unequivocal undertaking to the effect that no provision of the agreement prohibits members from taking measures to provide access to medicines at affordable prices, promote public health and nutrition.” They made this recommendation in a progress report to the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. (Chakravarthi Raghavan, South-North Development Monitor, 7 Aug. 2001)

UN Calls for Special Regime for Medicines: No international agreement should prohibit policies that ensure access to medicine at affordable prices, says a study presented to the United Nations Sub-Commission on Human Rights Tuesday. (Gustavo Capdevila, Inter Press Service, 7 Aug. 2001) 

[United Nations] Subcommission on Promotion and Protection of Human Rights discusses impact of globalization on human rights (United Nations, 7 Aug. 2001)

Statement by Human Rights Watch to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’ Working Group on the Working Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations (Human Rights Watch, 31 July 2001)

Statement by Sir Geoffrey Chandler (former Chair, Amnesty International United Kingdom Business Group) regarding the Draft Universal Human Rights Guidelines for Companies, to the Working Group on the working methods and activities of transnational corporations, United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Sir Geoffrey Chandler, 31 July 2001)

{···español} Intervención del Centro de Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente en la Sub Comisión de Derechos Humanos - Grupo de Trabajo sobre Métodos y Actividades de Corporaciones Transnacionales (Jorge Daniel Taillant, Director Ejecutivo, CEDHA [Centro de Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente / Center for Human Rights and the Environment], 31 de Julio, 2001)

Business and Global Corporate Citizenship: Best Practice for the Future - "Business and Human Rights: The Way Forward": Statement by Dr. B.G. Ramcharan, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (delivered to Wilton Park Conference, Montreux, Switzerland, 2 May 2001)

Companies and Human Rights - Recent Developments [commentary by Sir Geoffrey Chandler on the Draft United Nations Human Rights Guidelines for Companies] (Sir Geoffrey Chandler, 5 Apr. 2001)

UN [United Nations] guidelines for companies: David Weissbrodt (assisted by Christopher Avery and Muria Kruger) explains the rationale - In August 1999 the UN Working Group on the Methods and Activities of Transnational Corporations asked Professor David Weissbrodt to prepare a set of human rights guidelines for companies. (David Weissbrodt [member of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights], Christopher Avery and Muria Kruger, in Human Rights & Business Matters, newsletter of Amnesty International UK Business Group, spring/summer 2001) [For links to the latest draft of the guidelines, see the section of this website entitled "UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights"]