"UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights: What Happened at the April Intersessionals", 22 April 2026

…ESCR-Net members were present in Geneva, including FIAN International, Franciscans International, FIDH, International Commission of Jurists, and Observatori DESCA, alongside allies from the Global Campaign and the Treaty Alliance.

However, participation remained limited in a critical way. The consultations were held only in person, restricting access for many organizations, and especially communities most directly affected by corporate violations and abuses. At a moment when key elements of the treaty are being shaped, this raises concerns about whose perspectives are influencing the process…

One concerns the framing of corporate influence…

Another relates to the nature of corporate obligations. Under Article 2, corporate actors opposed the inclusion of binding obligations, advocating instead for voluntary approaches…

The purpose of the treaty was also contested. Some interventions suggested shifting the focus from preventing abuse to addressing it after it occurs...

The scope of the treaty remains another key point of debate. Corporate representatives argued against including value chains, despite the role these structures play in enabling transnational operations and diffusing responsibility…

Finally, resistance to enforcement mechanisms also emerged…

For civil society organizations, this is a moment to remain engaged. This includes continuing to closely follow developments, strengthening positions on key issues such as scope and value chains, and ensuring that the experiences of affected communities remain central to the process…