The man charged with finding a way forward for the United Nations on
human rights and business has reiterated his deep reservations about
the idea of multinationals having to comply with ‘UN norms’ on the
subject.
John Ruggie, special representative of the UN secretary-general for
business and human rights, told the United Nations Human Rights Council
that draft norms prepared for the UN two years ago were ‘poorly
conceived and, therefore, highly problematic in their potential
effects’. Formally presenting his interim report (EP7, issue 11, p2) on
the matter to the UN, Ruggie said the norms ‘would do little more than
keep lawyers in gainful employment for a generation to come’. He warned
supporters of the norms – mainly non-governmental organizations – not
to expect his final report, now due in June 2007, to propose a binding
framework governing the behaviour of multinationals.
The former UN assistant secretary general was appointed special representative after the norms were opposed by business.
