UN Draft Principles for Behavior of Trans-national Corporations

These draft principles drawn up by a working group of the UN Subcommittee on Human Rights
would provide an internationally binding set of principles by which TNSs should
operate. The principles are broad in that they include aspects of
non-discrimination, war crimes, workers right, environmental protection, and
consumer protection as well as interpreting TNCs responsibilities with regard
to international law. However, it remains to be seen whether the UN Human
Rights Committee and eventually national governments will lever ratify these
draft principles and thus make them binding under international law. It is also
unclear what, if any enforcement mechanism would be included in this mechanism.

The UN Global compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of
influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards,
the environment and anti-corruption.

·      Human Rights:

a.     Principle 1: Businesses
should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human
rights.

b.     Principle 2:
Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

·      Labour:

a.     Principle 3:
Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective
recognition of the right to collective bargaining.

b.     Principle 4:
The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.

c.      Principle 5:
The effective abolition of child labour

d.     Principle 6: The
elimination of discrimination on respect of employment and occupation.

·      Environment:

a.     Principle 7:
Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.

b.     Principle 8:
undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.

c.      Principle 9:
Encourage the development and diffusion of Principle environmentally friendly
technologies.

d.     Anti-corruption.

e.     Principle 10:
Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion
and bribery.