"In The Face of Corporate Impunity Progress In Europe", 10 Oct 2016

Providing a regulatory framework for multinationals by means of binding rules is essential. Even if companies contribute to the economy, their activities may also result in fundamental human rights violations and environmental damages that voluntary initiatives alone cannot prevent effectively.  Since 2011, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights require companies to respect human rights through the implementation of “due diligence”...The UN is also preparing a binding treaty on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights...The OECD and the European Commission have taken measures on, but without creating a binding framework...Since the enforcement of these declarations relies on the political will of each State, it is high time for them to take action. France is preparing a bill relating to the duty of care incumbent upon parent and subcontracting companies, which is struggling to be definitively adopted. Yet this bill would finally make it possible to tackle the human rights violations and corruption taking place in French companies’ supply and production chains. France is not the only European country working towards this objective.