Transnational corporations (TNCs) are the great empires of the 21st century in globalized capitalism. They control the production, marketing and distribution of all kinds of goods that are essential to life, such as energy, food, water, infrastructure, healthcare, telecommunications, finance, textiles… The objective of multinational corporations is to maximize their economic profits, which are built without any regard for the abuse and violation of the rights and freedoms of individuals and peoples, as well as the plundering of territories and ecosystems across the globe.

The complicity of states in this transnational framework contributes to an architecture of impunity that exposes the asymmetry between the rights of TNCs and those of individuals and peoples, who are clearly relegated to a secondary position. The current trajectory of the legal framework shields economic interests, placing the accumulation of wealth at the top of the normative hierarchy. By contrast, the protection of human rights is left without binding regulations, relegated to a kind of corporate statement of good intentions.

A legal framework is needed to regulate TNCs and hold them legally accountable for human rights violations and environmental damage committed both directly and through their production chains. ECOAR))) will join the global “Stop Corporate Impunity” campaign alongside numerous organizations from around the world because we believe there is an urgent need to develop a legally binding international instrument to regulate TNCs with regard to human rights and respect for the environment. We support the need for a Binding Treaty because:

• We defend the primacy of human rights and environmental protection over the power and impunity of TNCs.
• We believe that TNCs must be subject to direct legal obligations and penalties.
• We advocate for the need for joint and several liability; therefore, the Treaty must cover all activities throughout the supply chains of large corporations.
• We defend the binding nature of the Treaty, which requires the establishment of an International Court and enforcement institutions.
• We work to protect and provide redress to individuals and communities affected by TNCs.
• We oppose the grabbing of resources by TNCs.