Human Rights Protections in International Supply ChainssProtecting Workers and Managing Company Risk: 2018 Report and Model Contract Clauses from the Working Group to Draft Human Rights Protections in International Supply Contracts, ABA Section of Business Law

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David V. Snyder ◽  
Susan Maslow
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Business Law ◽  
Supply Contracts ◽  
Model Contract

The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Business and Human Rights Treaty Negotiations

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Bernaz ◽  
Irene Pietropaoli
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Corporate Accountability ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Business And Human Rights ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Treaty Negotiations ◽  
Global Movement ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn June 2014, the UN Human Rights Council established an intergovernmental working group to elaborate a treaty on business and human rights. In July 2015, the working group held its first session launching the negotiations process—the culmination of a global movement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that over the last four decades have called for greater corporate accountability for human rights violations. The advocacy activities of the Treaty Alliance, an alliance of NGOs that supports the development of the treaty, were pivotal to the tabling of the resolution establishing the working group. These organizations now have the opportunity to engage with the negotiations process, both formally and informally, through consultations, advocacy, and lobbying. This article considers the impact NGOs may have in the drafting negotiations of the proposed treaty. It identifies several lobbying and advocacy strategies that were successful in previous international law-making processes and discusses the extent to which they could be applied to the current negotiations. It presents the benefits of an NGO coalition, of formal and informal lobbying strategies, and of the development of a common NGOs and friendly states framework. It analyses the reasons for Western states’ opposition and suggests lobbying strategies that may overcome it. Recognizing the unique subject matter of this treaty, it also focuses on lobbying corporate actors, and explores the complementarity between the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the treaty and the need for NGOs to support both. The article concludes on the necessity to compromise on essential points if a treaty is ever to emerge.

scholarly journals Taxation of Beverages and Sweetened Products in Morocco: A Major Achievement and a Model to Follow In the Mena Region.

2020 ◽  
pp. 817-820
Author(s):  
Jamal Belkhadir ◽  
Mostafa Brahimi ◽  
Hassan Aguenaou ◽  
Jaafar Heikel ◽  
Hicham El Berri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
National Council ◽  
Consumption Tax ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Sugary Drinks ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes

The analysis of the various reports of the epidemiological situation of obesity and diabetes in Morocco with in particular the reports of the WHO, the High Commission for Planning of Morocco (HCP) and the report of the American Mc Kinsey Study Bureau in 2014, shows a sharp increase in diabetes, obesity and their morbidity and mortality. With a Moroccan population of 35 million inhabitants in 2017, the number of people with diabetes (2.5 million), pre-diabetes (2.4 million), obesity (3.6 million), overweight (10 million including 63% of women and 16% of children) is alarming. The consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality and direct and indirect health costs through reduced productivity for the economy of Morocco and for society as a whole are very high. Total annual expenditure related to obesity amounts to $ 2.4 billion, or 3% of Morocco's GDP. The causes of this increase in obesity and diabetes are closely linked to profound changes in lifestyle: high-calorie diet rich in fast sugars, reduction in physical activity, etc. This is how it is demonstrated that too much consumption of sugary drinks is harmful to weight maintenance, metabolic balance and cardiovascular health. Conversely in many experiments around the world, the number of people with overweight and a risk of diabetes decreases significantly when the reduction of refined sugars is carried out by several preventive measures including increasing the tax on sodas, juices and other sugary drinks. The members of the Working Group who have been working together for several years in Morocco on the “Taxation of sweet products” within the framework of the Moroccan League for the Fight against Diabetes and the Moroccan Society of Nutrition, Health and Environment, have carried out multiple actions advocacy and sensitization with the government, the ministry of health, the parliament, the university, civil society and the media. The soda tax was finally adopted by the Moroccan Parliament in the 2019 finance bill. A first in the Middle East and North Africa region. In December 2019, a new acquisition was made during the discussion of the Finance Law Project (FLP) 2020 by the introduction of a progressive Internal Consumption Tax (ICT) on sugary drinks in proportion to their sugar concentration. The aim is to encourage manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of sugary drinks and energy drinks to avoid over-taxation. On the other hand, the support recently given in 2020 by the National Council of Human Rights of Morocco to this tax constitutes a very large acquisition, with a new institutional and socio-cultural dimension of human rights for the preservation health in Morocco. Members of the working group will continue their efforts to extend this tax to all products containing a significant amount of sugar. The same is true for other toxic products such as salt, fat and tobacco. Keywords: Diabetes, Obesity, Prevention, Tax soda, Morocco

scholarly journals Konvencijas par uzņēmējdarbību un cilvēktiesībām nepieciešamība

2021 ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
Mārtiņš Birģelis ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Transnational Corporations ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
International Treaty ◽  
Business And Human Rights ◽  
Human Rights Council ◽  
The Impact

The current legal framework does not properly address the impact that transna­tional corporations have on human rights. In 2014, the UN Human Rights Council established an open-ended intergovernmental working group with a mandate to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enter­prises. Yet this decision was strongly contested. This article outlines the main arguments for desirability of an international treaty on business and human rights and provides a response to some of the most common objections raised against the development of such legally binding instrument.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document