"U.S. agrees to develop NAP on business & human rights", 30 Sep 2014

APs certainly can help governments and companies identify where corruption may occur and how to fill those oversight gaps. But perhaps more importantly, they can reveal blind spots in corporate policy and cracks in judicial systems that let business-related human rights abuses continue without remedy for those affected -- including users at risk around the world...[D]iversity of viewpoints and transparent, accessible public engagement are two additional values that should guide this process. Therefore, the Obama Administration should consult civil society throughout the development of its NAP, from the gathering of evidence through execution of the final plan...[T]ransnational companies aren’t the only businesses that contribute to violations: Local subsidiaries and operators, from apparel factories to part-state-owned telecoms, may fly below the radar of international bodies and principles, but nonetheless have very real human rights impacts. For that reason, we call on more governments, including those from Latin America - site of the People’s Forum on Business and Human Rights -- to urgently take up developing NAPs for their own jurisdictions.