Using China as an example, a country where the economic boom coexists with the most flagrant human rights violations, the FIDH launches a campaign to raise awareness and « harass » businesses in a constructive manner.
It is now globally recognized that businesses have the obligation to promote, respect and protect human rights within their sphere of influence.
Aware of the voluntary initiatives taken by enterprises as part of their social responsibility, the FIDH calls for their harmonisation at the inetrnational level and supports the United Nations Draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights.
This text, drawn up by the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights sets out, in a single document, the rights and obligations derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), that are applicable to companies and States.
On the occasion of its « Keep Your Eyes Open » campaign, focusing on China, FIDH calls on companies to support this text publicly and to join transnational corporations that have decided to put the Norms to the test, under the patronage of Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
This campaign is aimed at businesses and at each and every one of us. It focuses on China as an example: the country is considered to be the driving force of global growth and the new El Dorado for businesses, whilst remaining nonetheless a dictatorship (torture, arbitrary executions, forced evictions, violations of fundamental rights, etc.).
Rather than closing their eyes to this situation, enterprises that invest in China can contribute to bringing about a real change by keeping their eyes open and can seek to ensure respect of human rights within their sphere of influence. The Draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations provides them with the best framework for such actions.