*Originally publised on the website of Friends of the Earth International
The 12th session of negotiations for a United Nations Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and Human Rights has closed in Geneva, Switzerland. Friends of the Earth International is hopeful that a strong Treaty is on the horizon after many decades fought on the frontlines by affected communities and an arduous twelve years of struggle at the United Nations. The Binding Treaty would hold TNCs accountable and give affected communities access to justice. Launching the Checkmate campaign to further internationalise this struggle, FoEI, alongside the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples’ Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity, continues to help bring the voices of those most affected by, and leading the fight against, corporate human rights violations forward:
Pablo Fajardo, UDAPT / FoE Ecuador, said:
“Chevron tore through communities and created the worst environmental disaster in Ecuador’s history. Crimes like those caused by Chevron can’t be allowed to be repeated anywhere else in the world, and their impunity cannot continue. More than thirty years on, we’re still seeking justice because of a global architecture of impunity built by and for transnational corporations. We come all the way to Geneva to demand a strong Binding Treaty because it will mean justice, reparations and the safeguarding of our communities.”
Juliette Renaud, Les Amis de la Terre / FoE France said:
“When your community’s lands have been flooded with oil, Human Rights violated, and health put at risk for the sake of profit, you can’t wait decades for justice and reparations the way so many are now. This is a critical time for the Treaty and for one of our strongest proposals to establish an international tribunal on transnational corporations that would actually give communities on the frontlines of corporate crimes effective access to justice. We have some states on our side and a wave of civil society pushing for this.”
Similar to other multilateral spaces, the corporate lobby remains a threat to securing a strong Treaty. Being an egregious conflict of interest, FoEI and the Global Campaign are determined to ensure the corporations the Treaty is meant to regulate no longer have a seat at the table.
Erika Mendes, Justiça Ambiental JA! / FoE Mozambique said:
“The International Organisation of Employers and other corporate lobbies are still present in the room, actively trying to derail a process built by communities for decades. Allowing corporations to have a say in a Treaty meant to regulate them is like allowing students to determine how their tests will be graded. The IOE threatened to leave the space unless businesses were heard, and we’d be happy to show them the way out.”
Letícia Paranhos, Friends of the Earth International said:
“We’re now looking to the final phase of having a strong Binding Treaty that would be a historic win for all the communities who have lost so much to the dominance of corporate power. Affected communities are the heart and soul of this process, one that belongs to the people, and we’re demanding a Treaty that reflects that. It will be a Checkmate on corporate power and an end to the impunity of transnational corporations.”
For further information and liase with Media
Ghislaine Fandel // ghislaine@foei.org // In Geneva 9-17 October
