A United Nations panel of experts says the UN should have the power to investigate and censure multi-national companies involved in human rights abuses. The UN sub-commission for the promotion and protection of human rights has adopted a draft code of conduct which could lead to large firms facing similar obligations as governments. BBC business reporter Mark Gregory says the UN wants the power to tackle issues such as bad working conditions for employees in poor countries, or instances where firms run roughshod over local communities when building new plants and pipelines.
So if you don’t want Wal-Mart building a store in your town, you can go complain to the UN.
Most controversially, our correspondent says, the body wants corporations to submit regular reports to the UN and to accept independent monitoring on human rights. Arvind Ganesan, of Human Rights Watch, said it was an important step forward in developing human rights standards for corporations. "The norms help to level the playing field for companies that want to do the right thing for human rights.
"level the playing field" means punishing sucessful companies.
Now every company’s obligations are detailed and no company can say that it doesn’t have responsibilities in the area of human rights." The sub-commission called on governments and individuals to submit information to its working group on any breach or violation of human rights that might be put down to the activities of big global corporations.
The anti-global socialist protest types will love this one. |