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Business and development

Article as analysis

Little Switzerland stands tall

Swiss corporations are major world market players. Not least of all in developing countries where governance is weak. Using four charts, guest author Markus Mugglin explains why Switzerland in particular ought to be taking global responsibility.

Political article

Things do occasionally move, after all!

The discussion on human rights and environmental responsibility on the part of Swiss multinationals has now become mainstream. The Parliament is dealing seriously with the Responsible Business Initiative.

Legal Affairs Committee wants counter-proposal

In the frame of the revision of the Swiss Corporation Law, the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Council proposes legal measures against human rights violations by corporations based in Switzerland.

Article as analysis

When Dutch subsidiaries take the lead

When it comes to human rights, Economiesuisse is set for confrontation. Swiss companies abroad are more aware of their responsibility.

Guillaume Long; UN-Treaty Human Rights

Political article

«Profit should not be an end in itself»

The 3rd Session of an Inter-Governmental Working Group convened in October in Geneva, chaired by Guillaume Long. It is charged with elaborating an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and human rights. An interview.

Article as analysis

Paradisiacal voluntary action

Countless enterprises are all too willing to use every tiny legal loophole to maximize their profits. Voluntary action is also the mantra of the Federal Council, even if human rights are concerned.

Political article

Parliamentarians for an indirect counter-proposal

The Legal Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament acknowledges that human rights violations perpetrated by Swiss based multinational companies are of great concern. It initiates a counter-proposal to the «Responsible Business Initiative».

Glencore

Article as analysis

National Contact Point: The limits of dialogue

Economic associations are opposed to the introduction of civil liability for business-related human rights violations and environmental degradation, as proposed under the Responsible Business Initiative; they point to National Contact Point.

Article as analysis

British Parliament applies pressure

The implementation of the UN Guiding Principles is also gaining traction in the United Kingdom. One report calls for much the same things as the Responsible Business Initiative.