<div dir="ltr">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Flavio Valente</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Valente@fian.org">Valente@fian.org</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="DE"> </span><div lang="EN-US"><div class="gmail-m_7356464779824101730WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">As you are probably aware we had last week the third session of the Open Ended Working Group on the Human Rights Treaty to regulate Transnational Corporations
and Other Businesses. It was an uphill battle but the movements of communities affected by TNC crimes, with the support of a broad coalition of civil society movements and organizations, managed to defeat the blocking maneuvers, in particular in the part
of the EU delegation, and move the process in the negotiation mode.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">However the EU has already started to make new moves towards attempting to block the process. The EU representative in the ongoing meeting of the African Human
Rights Commission made veiled criticism to the South African Mission in Geneva, which has been one of the strongest proponents of the
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Binding human rights instrument, and has the clear intention to mobilize African states and ngos against the treaty. They are saying that the process has unfortunately
been politicized by an insistence on TNCs only 'which would cover only 7% of companies'.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">It is very important that all civil society organizations and the commission be informed that the EU has systematically tried to block the process, one way or
the other, defending instead the utilization of the toothless voluntary UN guiding principles on business and human rights.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Please refer to the attached press release which summarizes the results of the intense week of debates in Geneva.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">In case you need any further clarification don’t hesitate to contact me at
<a href="mailto:valent@fian.org" target="_blank">valent@fian.org</a>, and or <a href="mailto:suarez-franco@fian.org" target="_blank">
suarez-franco@fian.org</a> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR">Chers amis,
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR">Comme vous le savez probablement, nous avons eu la semaine dernière la troisième session du Groupe de travail à composition non limitée sur le traité
des droits de l'homme pour réglementer les sociétés transnationales et autres entreprises. Ce fut une bataille difficile, mais les mouvements des communautés touchées par les crimes des CNT, soutenus par une large coalition de mouvements et d'organisations
de la société civile, ont réussi à faire échouer les manœuvres de blocage, en particulier dans la délégation de l'UE, et mettre le processus dans le mode de négociation. Cependant, l'UE a déjà commencé à prendre de nouvelles mesures pour essayer de bloquer
le processus. Le représentant de l'UE à la réunion en cours de la Commission africaine des droits de l'homme a fait des critiques voilées à la Mission sud-africaine à Genève, qui a été l'un des plus fervents défenseurs de la Instrument contraignant en matière
de droits de l'homme, et a clairement l'intention de mobiliser les États africains et les ONG contre le traité. Ils disent que le processus a malheureusement été politisé par une insistance sur les sociétés transnationales seulement «qui ne couvriraient que
7% des entreprises». Il est très important que toutes les organisations de la société civile et la Commission soient informées que l'UE a systématiquement tenté de bloquer le processus, d'une manière ou d'une autre, en défendant l'utilisation des principes
directeurs volontaires des Nations Unies sur les entreprises et les droits humains. Veuillez vous référer au communiqué de presse ci-joint qui résume les résultats de la semaine intense de débats à Genève. Si vous avez besoin de plus de précisions, n'hésitez
pas à me contacter à <a href="mailto:valent@fian.org" target="_blank">valent@fian.org</a>, et ou <a href="mailto:suarez-franco@fian.org" target="_blank">
suarez-franco@fian.org</a> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR"> Tous les meilleurs
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white;background:rgb(66,133,244) none repeat scroll 0% 0%" lang="FR">Flavio</span><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="FR"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="ES">Querid@s amig@s<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="ES"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="ES">Como probablemente sabrán, tuvimos la semana pasada la tercera sesión del Grupo de Trabajo de Composición Abierta sobre el Tratado de Derechos Humanos
para regular las empresas transnacionales y otros negocios. Fue una batalla cuesta arriba, pero los movimientos de las comunidades afectadas por crímenes de TNC, con el apoyo de una amplia coalición de movimientos y organizaciones de la sociedad civil, lograron
vencer las maniobras de bloqueo, en particular en la parte de la delegación de la UE, y cambiar el proceso en el modo de negociación. Sin embargo, la UE ya ha comenzado a hacer nuevos movimientos para intentar bloquear el proceso. El representante de la UE
en la reunión en curso de la Comisión Africana de Derechos Humanos hizo una crítica velada a la Misión sudafricana en Ginebra, que ha sido uno de los principales defensores de la Instrumento vinculante de derechos humanos, y tiene la clara intención de movilizar
a los estados y ONG africanos contra el tratado. Dicen que desafortunadamente el proceso se ha politizado por una insistencia en las ETN solamente 'que cubriría solo el 7% de las empresas'. Es muy importante que todas las organizaciones de la sociedad civil
y la comisión estén informadas de que la UE ha intentado sistemáticamente bloquear el proceso, de una manera u otra, defendiendo la utilización de los desdentados principios voluntarios de la ONU sobre las empresas y los derechos humanos. Consulte el comunicado
de prensa adjunto que resume los resultados de la intensa semana de debates en Ginebra. En caso de que necesite más aclaraciones, no dude en ponerse en contacto conmigo en <a href="mailto:valent@fian.org" target="_blank">valent@fian.org</a>, y en <a href="mailto:suarez-franco@fian.org" target="_blank">suarez-franco@fian.org</a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)" lang="ES"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><br></div><div class="gmail-m_7356464779824101730WordSection1">xxx</div><div class="gmail-m_7356464779824101730WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">PRESS
RELEASE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The
treaty on transnational corporations and human rights enters “negotiation mode”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Geneva:
November 1, 2017 – The Global Campaign (1) welcomes the end of a successful
week of intense work moving towards decisive negotiations on a binding treaty
on transnational corporations (TNCs) and human rights, despite challenges from
the EU with support from the US.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">More
than 100 states and over 200 representatives of social movements, trade unions
and civil society organizations were at the UN in Geneva during the third
session of the UN inter governmental working group (2), from October 23-27,
2017. Members of parliaments from more than 20 countries and the European
Parliament (3), as well as more than 700 civil society organizations have
indicated strong public support for the process.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The
UN working group, tasked with elaborating a treaty on TNCs and human rights was
due to finish its third session on October 27, when a representative for the
United States – which has not participated in the three-year process after it
voted against the resolution 26/9 in 2014, saying this “binding treaty will not
be binding for those who voted against it” – unexpectedly joined a key meeting
and suggested the working group would need a new mandate from the Human Rights Council
to continue its work. However, the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council
confirmed that the working group does not need a new resolution and that it
will go forward with its work until a treaty is negotiated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The
closing Recommendations of the Chair-Rapporteur of the working group,
Ambassador Guillaume Long, Permanent Representative of Ecuador in Geneva,
committed to a road-map for the negotiation process for the fourth working
group session in 2018 and to further annual sessions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The
Draft Report and Conclusions were approved by consensus and will be submitted
for final approval to the UNHRC in March 2018. Furthermore, it was agreed that
the Elements paper towards a Treaty proposed by Ecuador in this third session
remains open for further comment until the end of February and will then,
together with the outcomes from the 2015 and 2016 sessions, form the basis for
developing the zero draft treaty for the fourth working group session in 2018.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“This
is a victory for supporters of the process towards a treaty. Political pressure
from social movements, NGOs and communities affected by TNCs’ human rights
violations, was essential to overcoming obstructive tactics used by several
parties, especially the EU,” said Lynne Davis, LaVia Campesina.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">“Current
measures to prevent human rights violations and abuses in the operations of
TNCs are not sufficient. While TNCs benefit from a wide range of investor
protection mechanisms and loopholes in international law, the people who lose
their lives, livelihoods and territories because of TNCs’ activities are often
repeatedly denied justice,” according to Gonzalo Berron, a researcher at the Transnational
Institute.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">"Corporate
self-regulation is not enough. Human rights defenders confronting TNCs’
operations are being killed, such as Berta Caceres from Honduras and many other
cases raised at the UN this week. This process towards a legally-binding treaty
is urgently needed. This is the message which communities affected by TNCs’
operations are bringing to their governments and to the UN process,” according
to Apollin Koagne Zoupet from Cameroon, representing Friends of the Earth International
(FOEI).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">As
demonstrated during the last three sessions, The Global Campaign is fully
committed to contributing to this process with proposals based on the
experiences of affected communities and social movements. Mary Ann Manahan, of
the World March of Women-Philippines commented “The proposal for a Treaty on
Transnational Corporations and their Supply Chains with Regard to Human Rights
(4) presented by the Global Campaign is a very significant text to move forward
negotiations between the States towards a draft Treaty during the coming year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">NOTE
TO EDITORS</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">(1)
This Press release is from the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty,
Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity (Global Campaign), a network of
over 200 social movements and affected communities resisting land grabs,
extractive mining, exploitative wages and environmental destruction,
particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Website:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue"><a href="https://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/">https://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">(2)
The Open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) on transnational
corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights is a
result of resolution 26/9 adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2014</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue"><a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/WGTransCorp/Pages/IGWGOnTNC.aspx">http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/WGTransCorp/Pages/IGWGOnTNC.aspx</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">(3)
For the list of signatories of the Inter-Parliamentary initiative for a UN
Binding Treaty on transnational corporations with respect to human rights see </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue"><a href="http://bindingtreaty.org/">http://bindingtreaty.org/</a></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">(4)
You can access the proposal here: </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue"><a href="https://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/wpcontent/">https://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/wpcontent/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue">uploads/2017/10/Treaty_draft-EN1.pdf</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">PRESS
CONTACT</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">To
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