With this Open Letter, we wish to express our appreciation as to the inclusion by the Italian Government in its work programme of the objective of achieving a "Green New Deal" (Para 7) aimed at rethinking the relationship between economic development, the environment and the human beings. However, we also deem it appropriate to provide the Italian institutions with some reflections on urgent issues...

It also requires taking into account the impacts of business activities on the rights of individuals and communities... 

[I]t should be noted that a framework already exists within which it is possible, and indeed necessary, to take action...

It is necessary to underline that the UN Guiding Principles, while being a soft law instrument, are normative in nature and are rooted in the international system of human rights, whose standards are binding upon the Italian State... [I]t is nowadays necessary for the guidelines included in the Italian NAP to be transformed into concrete policies and rules, aimed at creating a coherent and harmonised internal regulatory framework on business and human rights...

[I]t is necessary to regulate those factors which, in our internal judicial system, hinder access to justice and remedies for victims of human rights violations occurring in the context of the activities of Italian companies in Italy and abroad...

Rome, November 11th, 2019