13.30-15.00h
Committee Room 3,
Scottish Parliament / 10th International Conference of NHRIs
SIDE EVENT
Revising the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises:
What role for NHRIs?
/ The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are voluntary standards set by governments for multinational enterprises (MNEs). They address issues such as: Information disclosure, Employment and industrial relations, Environment, Combating bribery, Consumer interests, and Whistleblower protection.
In recent years, increasing numbers of NGOs, communities and individuals have sought to use the OECD Guidelines to secure accountability for corporate conduct affecting their human rights. As of January 2010, 90 OECD Guidelines cases have been filed by NGOs worldwide.
However, the Guidelines have been criticised for weak protection on human rights, in areas such as living wages and work hours, and also for failing to provider enforceable remedies for victims of corporate human rights abuses
In 2010 a process started to review the OECD Guidelines, with a new version due in 2011. This Side Event will allow NHRIs to discuss key questions such as
- How the Guidelines should be revised to give stronger protection for human rights?
- How NHRIs can promote implementation of the Guidelines by MNEs and adhering country governments?
- How NHRIs and “National Contact Points” may cooperate in dealing with specific cases where they have parallel jurisdiction?
- How NHRIs can work with civil society and business to promote adherence to the Guidelines?
DELEGATES PLEASE NOTE –
SIGN UP WHEN REGISTERING FOR BIENNIAL TO ENSURE YOUR LUNCH IS DELIVERED!
PROGRAMME
Moderator
Panel contributions
Open discussion / Lunch & refreshments will be delivered for registered participants to Meeting Room 3
Dr Jonas Christoffersen
Director, Danish Institute for Human Rights
Chair, ICC Working Group on Business and Human Rights
Dr Roel Nieuwenkamp
Chair of the Working Party for the OECD Guidelines Review,
OECD Investment Committee
Tricia Feeney
RAID (Rights and Accountability in Development) and founding member of the NGO umbrella, OECD Watch
Dr Judy McGregor
EEO Commissioner, New Zealand Human Rights Commission
Mr. Med S.K. Kaggwa
Uganda Human Rights Commission