Integrating a gender perspective into the legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises

This statement, submitted by a coalition of international organisations, urges the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG) to integrate a comprehensive gender perspective into the proposed legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The authors argue that corporate impacts on human rights are not gender-neutral and that the treaty must move beyond treating women as a "vulnerable group" to instead analyse how business operations cause disproportionate or unanticipated harms based on gender-based social, legal, and cultural roles.

• The authors recommend that the treaty mandate human rights-based Gender Impact Assessments for both planned and existing business operations. These assessments should be conducted by independent entities chosen by the affected community and women through a process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). They should specifically address gender roles, gender-based discrimination, prenatal and maternal health, sexual violence, and the gendered division of labour.
• The document argues that corporate activities often cause gender-specific harms, such as increased gender-based violence linked to extractive industries and mining. It notes that the migration of large numbers of men into construction sites significantly alters the lives of local women and girls.
• The statement calls for gender-sensitive justice and remedy mechanisms that address the specific barriers women face, such as poverty, geographical distance, and gender stereotypes. It advocates for "transformative" reparations that aim to subvert structural inequalities and gender hierarchies rather than simply returning a victim to a previous situation of subordination.
• The authors emphasize the need for enhanced protection for women human rights defenders, who face gender-specific risks including rape, sexual harassment, and misogynist defamation campaigns. They argue that these attacks are often perpetrated by state, corporate, and non-state actors, including private security forces, and are frequently treated with impunity.
• The document recommends that States ensure the full and active participation of women in all relevant consultations, including the design of impact assessments and remedial processes, with women represented in at least equal proportions to men.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2017). Integrating a gender perspective into the legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gender-issues-in-binding-treaty.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Integrating a gender perspective into the legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises. 2017. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gender-issues-in-binding-treaty.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Integrating a gender perspective into the legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises |date=20 October 2017 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gender-issues-in-binding-treaty.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{friendsoftheearthinternational2017integrating, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Integrating a gender perspective into the legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Gender-issues-in-binding-treaty.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }