Event

UN Binding Treaty & Africa

Event Details

A United Nations Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations:
Its relevance and potential impact for South Africa and the African Continent

What: Hybrid Roundtable discussion

When: Wednesday 6th September 2023, 10:00 – 12:00

Register HERE to participate

BACKGROUND

Historically, international human rights law has governed only states but the increasingly powerful nature of corporations, especially transnational corporations, which wield more resources and power than many sovereign states, gave rise to calls to incorporate their operations within international human rights law. In 2014, South Africa and Ecuador jointly sponsored a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council for the “elaboration of an International Legally Binding Instrument on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises” to enhance the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, a set of guidelines to address human rights violations committed in business operations.

This roundtable will explore questions relating to:

  • Why is a legally binding treaty needed to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses?
  • What should be included in such a treaty?
  • What is the possible impact of such a treaty on the South African and African states, businesses, civil society, and local communities?
  • How can we encourage participation of African States in the treaty negotiations process?


SPEAKERS:

  • Ms M. Clements: Director of International Programmes at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
  • Ms L. Mabuza: Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)
  • Mr C. Coovadia: Chief Executive Officer of Business Unity South Africa
  • Prof T. Madlingozi: Director of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), WITS University


Organised by:


Credit cover photo: CIDSE

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