Open letter by 27 leading non-governmental organisations on the need to strengthen recognition and protection for human rights defenders working on issues of business and human rights
25 June 2014
Excellency,
As you will be aware, the UN Human Rights Council is currently considering two draft resolutions on the issue of business and human rights, being ‘Human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises’ (A/HRC/26/L.1, submitted by Norway, Russian Federation, Ghana and Argentina) and ‘Elaboration of international legally binding instrument on TNCs and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’ (A/HRC/26/L.22, submitted by Ecuador and South Africa).
The purpose of this letter is to urge your delegation to support the inclusion of language in relation to human rights defenders in both business and human rights resolutions, or in a single resolution in the event that a highly desirable compromise is reached to combine the two.
We consider that both draft resolutions contain positive elements, with A/HRC/26/L.1 recognising the importance of national implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, renewing the mandate of the Working Group, and acknowledging the need to strengthen access to remedy, and A/HRC/26/L.22 implicitly recognising the need to strengthen both the regulation of business, and access to remedy for victims of business-related violations. We are deeply disappointed, however, that neither draft resolution contains adequate language regarding the role of human rights defenders in promoting corporate respect for human rights or corporate accountability for human rights violations, nor the worsening threats and risks they face in association with this work.[1] Further, neither draft contains any language on the protection of other vulnerable groups.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights recognise the crucial role of human rights defenders in promoting corporate accountability and in identifying and mitigating the adverse human rights impact of business.[2] Despite this positive role, a number of recent reports have documented worsening attacks and restrictions from both governments and private actors in retaliation against this work.[3] We draw your attention in particular to the report of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights to the current session of the Council, which states that:
One trend that stands out in the communications received is related to human rights defenders. Communications have addressed alleged murders of, attacks on and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders who campaign against the adverse impacts of extractive company operations and allegations regarding the impact of mining and hydroelectric projects on indigenous peoples. The Working Group is gravely concerned about a disturbing increase in attacks and acts of intimidation by State and non-State actors against those who protest against the actual and potential adverse impacts of business operations and major development projects.[4]
The Working Group goes on to recommend that States should ‘Ensure the protection of human rights defenders who raise awareness of the impacts of business activities … and communicate to business enterprises that they also need to respect the rights of human rights defenders’.[5]
It is deeply regrettable that these findings and recommendations are not reflected in either of the draft resolutions on business and human rights, notwithstanding the stated commitment of the sponsors of each to protecting the victims of business-related human rights violations.
In the context above, the undersigned non-governmental organisations call on the sponsors and supporters of the proposed Human Rights Council resolutions on business and human rights to ensure that they include language which:
- Emphasises that human rights defenders and other civil society actors have an important and legitimate role in implementing the Guiding Principles, promoting corporate social responsibility, and in preventing, mitigating and seeking remedy for the adverse human rights impacts of transnational corporations and other business enterprises;
- Expresses concern about threats, attacks, reprisals and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders and civil society actors for investigating, protesting, and seeking accountability and access to remedies in cases of corporate involvement in human rights violations;
- Urges States to take concrete steps to ensure that human rights defenders and civil society actors working on issues of business and human rights are able to undertake their work in a safe and enabling environment free from hindrance and insecurity; and
- Further urges States to investigate any alleged threats, attacks, reprisals and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders or civil society actors in connection with their work on business and human rights.
We look forward to your support.
Yours sincerely
International Service for Human Rights
Amnesty International
Article 19
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
Comisión Andina de Juristas
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Conectas Direitos Humanos
East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project
El Proyecto de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales, A.C. (ProDESC)
Fastenopfer
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights)
Foundation HELP
Franciscans International
Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR)
Global Witness
Groundation Grenada
Human Rights Law Centre
Human Rights Watch
International Commission of Jurists
Peace Brigades International
Reporters Without Borders
Sierra Leone Human Rights Defenders Network
West African Human Rights Defenders Network
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
[1] At the time of writing, draft resolution A/HRC/26/L.1 did contain a paragraph which recognises the ‘valuable role played by civil society’ in promoting implementation of the Guiding Principles and accountability for business-related human rights abuses and in raising awareness of the human rights impacts and risks of business. This draft resolution does not contain any acknowledgment, however, of the threats and attacks against human right defenders in connection with this work, nor the obligations of States to protect and support defenders in this field and ensure accountability for such attacks.
[2] See, in particular, Guiding Principles 18 and 26. See also Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/25/55, para 93.
[3] See, for example, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, A/HRC/25/55, paras 93-96; Global Witness, ‘Deadly Environment: The Dramatic Rise in Killings of Environmental and Land Defenders’ (2014); FIDH, OMCT, ISHR et al, ‘Land and environmental rights defenders in danger: an overview of recent cases’ (2013).
[4] Report of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, A/HRC/26/25, para 69 (emphasis added).
[5] Ibid, para 94(c).
