Article by PBI-Canada
On February 12, PBI-Spanish State (Estado Español) posted on Facebook about three webinars it is co-organizing on Human Rights and Business.
PBI-EE notes: “This year 2021 marks ten years since the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Their ‘non-binding’ character (a euphemism for voluntary) has been subject to criticism from social movements around the world.”
It adds: “To hear the voice of those who resist and denounce the violations of human rights of large companies, to learn more about the situation in specific sectors and countries, to know what the state of the issue is in the legislative field, we invite you to our Matchdays on human rights and businesses, February 25, 26 and 27.”
The first webinar on Thursday, February 25 at 12 pm EST, moderated by Miriam García Torres of PBI-EE, features several human rights defenders accompanied by PBI including: Berenice Celeita of Nomadesc (Colombia), Donald Hernández of CEHPRODEC (Honduras), and Omar Jerónimo of CCCND (Guatemala).
For a complete list of all the speakers and the programme for the Conference on human rights and business, please click here.
This coming June 16 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Council endorsing the Guiding Principles on business and human rights. The 7th session to negotiate a Binding Treaty on transnational corporations and human rights is expected in October.
In September 2018, PBI-Mexico commented: “After 7 years of the Guiding Principles being in force, PBI has not witnessed an improvement in the situation of risk for human rights defenders on the ground.”
It then highlighted: “PBI believes that a Binding Treaty could potentially lead to greater protection of human rights defenders working on business and human rights cases.”
On a PBI-United Kingdom webinar in July 2020, PBI-Colombia accompanied Yessika Hoyos from the Jose Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective (CCAJAR) commented: “Many companies together with the states have been blocking this issue.” Those countries reportedly include Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.