economic justice resisting neoliberalism

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) accountable for human rights and environmental violations, specifically highlighting systemic impunity and access-to-justice barriers in Africa.

• Transnational corporations such as Shell, Chevron, Eni, and Total have operated in the Niger Delta for decades with impunity, contributing to systemic environmental degradation and human rights violations. Since the 1995 killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight activists, over 5,000 Ogonis have died in violent oil-related conflicts and military actions.
• Victims of corporate abuse in Nigeria face significant juridical hurdles when seeking justice, including high litigation costs, short time limits for enforcing rights, the burden of proof falling on victims, and the problem of locus standi (the right to sue).
• In Mozambique, Vale's Moatize coal project since 2011 has forcibly displaced 1,365 families in Tete Province and polluted soil and water sources. The company has failed to provide promised relocation opportunities, and community protests have been met with violence from the police and the company.
• In South Africa, the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) won a legal victory on June 22, 2015, forcing ArcelorMittal SA (AMSA) to release a 7,000-page environmental "Master Plan" after a 12-year legal battle. The Supreme Court of Appeal criticized the company's "culture of secrecy and unresponsiveness".
• Women in Edo State, Niger Delta region, successfully reclaimed 13,750 hectares of land from oil palm and rubber plantation companies, including Okomu Oil Palm Plc (Socfin Group) and Iyayi Group, after a struggle that began in 2010.
• The document argues that existing international human rights law is insufficient because it focuses on state responsibilities, allowing TNCs to escape accountability through voluntary pacts like the Global Compact (2000) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011).
• A UN process began in 2014 at the Human Rights Council to create a binding treaty on business and human rights. The Inter Governmental Working Group (IGWG) held its first session in 2015 and its second session in Geneva from October 24 to 28, 2016.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2016). economic justice resisting neoliberalism. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Africa-booklet-Rules-for-business-right-for-people.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. economic justice resisting neoliberalism. 2016. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Africa-booklet-Rules-for-business-right-for-people.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=economic justice resisting neoliberalism |date=October 2016 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Africa-booklet-Rules-for-business-right-for-people.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2016economic, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{economic justice resisting neoliberalism}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2016}, month = oct, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Africa-booklet-Rules-for-business-right-for-people.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }