Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Today an interesting meeting took place in Geneva as a side event to the UN Human Rights Council on the topic: “Human rights defenders working on corporate accountability: How can the Human Rights Council contribute to their protection?”

In its report to the Human Rights Council, the Working Group on business and human rights noted ‘that conflicts between communities and businesses had led to the harassment and persecution of human rights defenders investigating, protesting, seeking corporate accountability and access to remedies for victims of alleged abuses linked to business activities.’
This discussion featured both human rights experts and human rights defenders and was moderated by Phil Lynch, Director of organising NGO the International Service for Human Rights. Panelists were:

• Ms Sapna Malik, Partner at Leigh Day
• Mr Clement Voulé, member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights working group on extractive industries and human rights
• Ms Lene Wendland, Adviser on Business and Human Rights, OHCHR
• Mr Gerald Staberock, Secretary-General, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).

Hope to get the result soon.

This entry was posted on May 31, 2013 at 15:04 and is filed under Human Rights Defenders.

Tags: business, corporate accountability, environmental issues, Geneva, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, International Service for Human Rights, investigation, ISHR, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, side event, United Nations Human Rights Council, Working Group, World Organisation Against Torture