Der UN-Menschenrechtsrat hat gestern mehrheitlich für eine zwischenstaatliche Arbeitsgruppe zur verbindlichen Regulierung transnationaler Unternehmen gestimmt. Zuvor gab es zähe Verhandlungen (siehe auch hier). Eine tatsächliche Einigung gab es nicht, die scheiterte vor allem an der EU und den USA, die die Verhandlungen auch in Zukunft boykottieren wollen. Allerdings stimmten 20 Länder mit Ja für eine Resolution, die von Ecuador und Südafrika eingebracht worden war. 14 Staaten stimmten dagegen (darunter Deutschland) und 13 enthielten sich.
Die Treaty Alliance, ein Zusammenschluss aus über 600 zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen weltweit, begrüßt die Entscheidung (Pressemitteilung):
While companies must respect all human rights, as reaffirmed in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, they currently are not held accountable under international human rights law. Thus, the implementation of the Guiding Principles at the national level has been slow and the Guiding Principles remain insufficient to prevent human rights violations. In the meantime, many victims around the world continue to suffer without access to justice. Members of the Treaty Alliance emphasize that the establishment of a binding instrument is complementary to the implementation of the Guiding Principles and necessary to ensure glaring gaps in protection are addressed. Notably, an intergovernmental process will also contribute to addressing current imbalances under international law, particularly in light of protections companies can obtain under Bilateral Investment Treaties and Free Trade Agreements, which have allowed corporations to sue States. While the US and EU have repeatedly stated that they will not participate in the intergovernmental open-ended working group established by the resolution, the Treaty Alliance hopes for their involvement in this process that will be critical to ensuring effective protection of human rights in the context of business activities.
Ebenfalls beschlossen hat der Menschenrechtsrat heute die Weiterarbeit der Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises.