"International law lags behind economic reality", 7 May 2018

At the beginning of March, the UN Human Rights Council met in Geneva and the Dutch Parliamentary Committee on "Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation" met in The Hague. There was one common point on these meetings' agendas: an internationally binding UN treaty to more effectively protect citizens in every part of the world from human rights abuses by businesses...The international structure of multinational enterprises allows discrepancies between differing jurisdictions to be exploited. In view of increasing globalisation, the question arises how multinational enterprises can be brought to justice for abuses which extend beyond country borders...An internationally legally binding agreement, on the other hand, could provide a basis for states to act collectively and to create a level playing field...Until now, the EU has taken a hesitant and reactive approach in the UN treaty process...During the General Meeting of the Dutch Committee on 'Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation', Minister Sigrid Kaag expressed her support of the process intended to lead to a binding UN treaty...we therefore call upon the Dutch government to take a leading role in Europe and to work for an effective international agreement which will benefit victims of human rights abuses