The Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity: Oppose Transnational Corporate Power

In the 21st Century, the fight against corporate rule is the foundational human rights struggle and the essential predicate for preventing imminent climate catastrophe. In today's political-economy, global Transnational Corporations (TNC) are larger, richer, and more powerful than all but a handful of the biggest countries. Motivated entirely by their own selfish interests, they have created an international legal system that sets them above the laws of individual nations and grants them impunity to wreak environmental, economic and political havoc without restraint or consequences. Here in the U.S, issues of excessive corporate power and abuse range from Citizens United & dark money to corporate capture of legislatures, presidencies and regulatory agencies. For years, activists here and abroad have resisted the corporate take-over of government and the economy.

The Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity aims to:

  • Oppose corporate crime. Highlight the economic and ecological crimes caused by corporations;

  • Oppose impunity. Draw attention to the international 'architecture of impunity', such as international trade and investment agreements, that allow corporations to perpetuate corporate crimes;

  • Defend democracy. Tackle the influence and control of governments and international bodies by corporations;

  • Demand legal protections. Propose binding legal mechanisms for holding corporations accountable for their actions;

  • Build solidarity. Strengthen solidarity towards communities and sectors resisting violations of human rights and people’s rights by corporations;

  • Treaty. Develop a People’s International Treaty on economic and political alternatives, which includes proposals for binding obligations and legal mechanisms for holding corporations accountable for their actions.

The campaign's treaty proposals:

  • Scope of the Treaty: The target of this process is the power and impunity of TNCs and covering all Human Rights

  • Primacy of human rights: The legally binding international instrument must reaffirm the hierarchical superiority of human rights norms over trade and investment treaties and develop specific state obligations in this regard (rejection of ISDS clauses)

  • Direct obligations for transnational corporations: The Treaty needs to establish direct legal obligations for TNCs.

  • Responsible solidarity: In order to cover all transnational activities, the Treaty shall cover all those activities along the supply chain of the TNC.

  • To be binding, the Treaty needs to include an International Court and other compliance institutions.

  • Rights of affected persons and communities: The Treaty shall recognize the moral and legitimate authority of the persons and peoples affected by TNCs activities. Human Rights, Environmental Rights defenders and whistle blowers shall be protected.

  • Protection from corporate capture: The Treaty shall include concrete measures against the influence of TNCs during the whole process of preparing, negotiating and implementing the future binding international instrument.

At their urging, this week a working group of the U.N. Human Rights Council will debate a legally-binding treaty to “REGULATE, IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW, THE ACTIVITIES OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.” It's time to stand up and say “Basta! Enough is enough! We want our democracy back!”

How can you help?
Stand with those around the world who are fighting for economic and political justice by posting a photo of yourself with the hashtags #BindingTreaty and #StopTNCImpunity and a message of solidarity demanding that government officials act to rein in corporate power. If you're a Twitter user, post: “Today, I stand with people around the world in calling for an international treaty to rein in corporate abuse. We need a #BindingTreaty to #StopTNCImpunity and #MakeThemPay.”


Further reading

Global day of action to rein in corporate power

About the Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity (Transnational Institute ~ TNI)

The Treaty on TNC's and the Struggle to stop Corporate Impunity (Transnational Institute ~ TNI)

Binding Treaty TNCs (Transnational Institute ~ TNI)

Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity

Corporate Accountability (labor affiliated).

Corporate Power (Transnational Institute ~ TNI founded by Institute for Policy Studies)

U.N. Human Rights Council working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

Deep DiveAnna KrasnerEconomic Justice