Business and Human Rights: Transnational business and their social responsibility

The role and influence of transnational corporations in shaping global and local rules has expanded in line with their increased management capacities and financial resources. CIDSE believes that these corporations should actively contribute to sustainable development; we work closely with Southern partners in this area and are contributing to the work of the UN Special Representative for Business and Human Rights.

Transnational business and their social responsibility

CIDSE has joined its voice to northern and southern civil society to advocate for the application of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related treaties not only to states and individuals but also to ‘organs of society’ including transnational businesses.

Ruggie Process: working to reduce the risk of human rights violations and improve access to justice

CIDSE member organisations work to prevent business enterprises from becoming complicit in or tacitly benefiting from human rights violations. It is in this context that CIDSE has been focusing on the mandate of the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie or the so-called Ruggie process. His mandate was extended for a further 3 years in June 2008 by the UN Human Rights Council. 

Extractive industries

During the 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi, CIDSE held a workshop on extractive industries in developing countries. The presence of partners from three continents and CIDSE representatives was an extraordinary opportunity for common analysis, visioning and striving towards political lobbying and advocacy on the issue of holding companies accountable for their extractive activities, wherever they operate.

An appeal ‘Prospecting for Solutions’ was launched by CIDSE and its partners calling on the main stakeholders to acknowledge that the country’s natural resources belong to its citizens and should be used in the best interests of people.

Since then, CIDSE is working on a project on “Poverty and extractives industries in Latin America”.

Activities by CIDSE members

CIDSE agencies work on corporate responsibility and accountability in a variety of countries and sectors, together with partner organisations that work with communities directly affected by the actions of businesses. For more information about their work, see latest activities by CIDSE member organisations.