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Open call for inputs to UN Working Group report

Ensuring respect for human rights in the context of “economic diplomacy” and investment/trade promotion

As part of its ongoing focus on the need for States to safeguard human rights in the context of their roles as economic actors, the Working Group is examining the leverage of States to promote corporate respect for human rights through their trade and investment promotion activities.  This will be the focus of its annual report to the Human Rights Council in June 2018. In order to inform its work, the Working Group is inviting all interested parties to provide inputs. The following questions provide a guide for structuring inputs, but the Working Group is also welcoming inputs on other relevant aspects.

Deadline: 12 March 2018. Inputs should be sent to wg-business@ohchr.org with subject line “Survey inputs: state-business nexus”

I. Economic diplomacy and trade/investment promotion

1. Are there examples of ministries oriented to cross border trade and investment promotion that have any policy commitment to address human rights as part of their activities?

If yes, does such a commitment include any reference of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other standards for responsible business conduct (e.g. OECD Guidelines; IFC Performance Standards)?

2.  Are there examples of trade/business oriented ministries and agencies that have required businesses to demonstrate respect for human rights as set out in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as a condition of receiving government support through export credit, investment guarantees, and political risk insurance? If yes, how was this implemented?

3. Have such ministries or agencies involved with export/investment promotion, required businesses to demonstrate commitments to human rights as set out in the UN Guiding Principles as a condition for participating in trade missions, receiving export promotion assistance, and being eligible for trade advocacy services? If yes, how was this implemented?

 4. Are there examples of human rights training programmes for trade officers who assist companies with export promotion and other forms of trade and investment support?

5. If a company/business is the subject of a complaint by victims and/or civil society organizations, relating to adverse human rights impacts, are there examples of this having consequences for trade and investment-related support to the same company?

6. In what ways may decisions by State-run grievance mechanisms (e.g. national contact points) have consequences for whether a business receives trade and investment support? Are there examples of such connections being made?

Export Processing Zones and Investment Promotion

7. Are there examples of laws, regulations, policies and procedures in place for special economic zones/export processing zones that also include provisions for ensuring that businesses operating in those zones respect the human rights of workers and other people/communities who may be impacted by their activities?