Contribución por escrito de Amigos de la Tierra Internacional al grupo de trabajo intergubernamental de composición abierta sobre empresas transnacionales y otras empresas en materia de derechos humanos

This written submission by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) analyzes the 'Zero Draft' of a proposed UN legally binding instrument to regulate transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises in regarding human rights. FoEI argues that the Zero Draft is too weak, lacks direct obligations for corporations, and fails to provide effective mechanisms to end corporate impunity, calling for a revised version that prioritizes human rights over commercial interests.

• Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) considers the 'Zero Draft' presented by Ecuador to be insufficient and a 'step back' from previous sessions and the 2017 'Elements' document, stating it does not provide a solid basis for an effective treaty to end corporate impunity.
• FoEI argues that the treaty must establish the supremacy of human rights over commercial and investment treaties, noting that the Zero Draft minimizes this by only stating commercial treaties should not be contrary to the convention rather than granting human rights primacy.
• The document emphasizes the need for direct, legally binding obligations for transnational corporations (TNCs) rather than relying on voluntary principles or the 'primary responsibility' of States, which FoEI claims can allow companies to avoid accountability if a State's national environment is deficient.
• FoEI criticizes the Zero Draft's approach to jurisdiction and the 'value chain,' arguing it lacks a precise definition of global production chains and fails to address the responsibility of subcontractors or the link between parent companies and subsidiaries.
• The submission calls for the prohibition of the 'forum non conveniens' argument and the inclusion of 'forum necessitatis' to ensure victims can access justice in the home countries of TNCs or where assets are concentrated.
• FoEI and its partners propose the creation of a permanent, independent, and itinerant International Tribunal for TNCs and Human Rights to provide a judicial mechanism for sanction and enforcement when national courts are ineffective.
• The document reports that the European Union (EU) has been obstructive to the process, withdrawing from the 4th session's conclusions and maintaining that voluntary UN Guiding Principles are sufficient, despite resolutions from the European Parliament supporting a binding treaty.
• FoEI denounces attempts at 'corporate capture' of the UN process, specifically citing threats of commercial reprisals made by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) against Southern States supporting the binding treaty.
• The submission highlights specific corporate abuses in Palestine, citing companies such as Mekorot, Hewlett & Packard, Veolia, and Volvo as being involved in activities that facilitate occupation and human rights violations.
• A case from Liberia is cited involving Golden Veroleum Liberia, where the company allegedly used state security forces to harass and imprison community members in the Butaw district, resulting in deaths and prolonged detention without charges.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2019). Contribución por escrito de Amigos de la Tierra Internacional al grupo de trabajo intergubernamental de composición abierta sobre empresas transnacionales y otras empresas en materia de derechos humanos. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_spanish_pages.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Contribución por escrito de Amigos de la Tierra Internacional al grupo de trabajo intergubernamental de composición abierta sobre empresas transnacionales y otras empresas en materia de derechos humanos. 2019. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_spanish_pages.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Contribución por escrito de Amigos de la Tierra Internacional al grupo de trabajo intergubernamental de composición abierta sobre empresas transnacionales y otras empresas en materia de derechos humanos |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_spanish_pages.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2019contribucin, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Contribución por escrito de Amigos de la Tierra Internacional al grupo de trabajo intergubernamental de composición abierta sobre empresas transnacionales y otras empresas en materia de derechos humanos}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Foei_Submission_2018_spanish_pages.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }