Proposition écrite des Amis de la Terre International au Groupe de travail intergouvernemental à composition non limitée sur les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises commerciales et les droits de l’homme

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) provides a critical analysis of the 'Zero Draft' of a proposed UN legally binding instrument to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in relation to human rights. FoEI argues that the draft is too weak, lacks essential principles, and fails to provide effective mechanisms to end corporate impunity. The document includes general comments on the draft's structure, specific contributions from FoEI representatives across different continents, and recommendations for the revised version of the treaty to be presented at the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG).

• Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) considers the 'Zero Draft' presented by Ecuador to be insufficient and a regression compared to the previous 'Elements' document, stating it is not a solid basis for an effective treaty.
• FoEI argues that the treaty must establish the supremacy of human rights over trade and investment agreements, noting that the Zero Draft minimizes this postulate.
• The document emphasizes the need for the treaty to impose direct legal obligations on transnational corporations (TNCs) rather than relying solely on state obligations or voluntary principles.
• FoEI criticizes the Zero Draft for failing to adequately address 'value chains' and the responsibility of parent companies for the actions of subsidiaries and subcontractors.
• The report calls for the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute TNCs for human rights violations, arguing that national jurisdictions are often ineffective or unable to hold corporations accountable.
• FoEI strongly condemns the European Union's refusal to participate constructively in the treaty's content determination, alleging that the EU favors corporate interests and voluntary standards over binding regulations.
• The document highlights the danger of corporate influence on the treaty process, reporting that the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) threatened Southern states with trade reprisals for supporting the binding treaty.
• FoEI advocates for the adoption of a 'duty of vigilance' (devoir de vigilance) inspired by French law, which requires companies to implement and evaluate prevention measures and provide reparations.
• The report identifies specific corporate abuses in Palestine, citing companies such as Mekorot, Hewlett & Packard, Veolia, and Volvo as participants in crimes related to occupation and apartheid.
• The document cites a 2015 case in Liberia involving Golden Veroleum Liberia, where the company allegedly used public security forces to harass and imprison community members, resulting in deaths.

APA

Roland, M. (2019). Proposition écrite des Amis de la Terre International au Groupe de travail intergouvernemental à composition non limitée sur les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises commerciales et les droits de l’homme. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_french_pages.pdf

Chicago

Roland, Manoela. Proposition écrite des Amis de la Terre International au Groupe de travail intergouvernemental à composition non limitée sur les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises commerciales et les droits de l’homme. Friends of the Earth International, 2019. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_french_pages.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roland |first1=Manoela |title=Proposition écrite des Amis de la Terre International au Groupe de travail intergouvernemental à composition non limitée sur les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises commerciales et les droits de l’homme |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_french_pages.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roland2019proposition, author = {Roland, Manoela}, title = {{Proposition écrite des Amis de la Terre International au Groupe de travail intergouvernemental à composition non limitée sur les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises commerciales et les droits de l’homme}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_french_pages.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }