Chris O'Connell

JOINT STATEMENT Call for European Parliament to deliver a credible and ambitious approach on Omnibus I - ECCJ

🚨 NEW joint statement
It's time: the EU’s credibility on human rights & climate is on the line.

Ahead of the #Omnibus I vote, 140+ EU & non-EU CSOs urge MEPs to back a strong, fair deal that protects workers, communities & our planet, not corporate interests.

corporatejustice.org/publications...

#TBT to last week in Geneva 🇨🇭

CIDSE pushed for a binding #UNtreaty that puts human rights above corporate power.

After 12 years, affected communities need this instrument to end corporate impunity.
Progress is coming, now we need political courage ✊

🔗https://buff.ly/QZWGnwG

Second are the difficulties accessing remedy by these abuses, including the economic power of these companies and the financial and legal obstacles to taking cases in their home countries. The result is corporate impunity, not justice, is the norm.

First, there are the human rights and environmental abuses by large companies against the world’s poorest and most marginalised citizens that attack their basic human dignity and ways of living.

Why are organisations like @Trocaire that work toward social and environmental justice calling for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights? Here Quelvin Jimenez from our Guatemalan partner @PAPXIGUA outlines the reasons.

This is a key measure to ensure justice for affected people and communities and to avoid big companies using complex corporate structures and outsourcing to evade responsibility.

On Day 4 of the negotiations for a #bindingtreaty for #businessandhumanrights @trocaire.bsky.social partner Udiel Miranda, Director of COPAE Guatemala, called on states to support the Chair's proposals for joint and several liability all corporate actors involved in human rights violations.

Day 3: Wednesday 22 October - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Check out this page via the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

Read here a fuller summary of Day 3’s proceedings: www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-ne... @trocaire.bsky.social

Day 3 saw protections against corporate capture come under concerted attack by petro-states and business reps and rich states seeking to limit the rights of victims.

"Where is Ireland?" At the end of Day 3 of the negotiations in Geneva for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights I asked Brid Brennan of the @tninstitute.bsky.social about Ireland's notable absence from the proceedings.

At UN #BindingTreaty negotiations day 2, I had the opportunity to intervene for @cidse.bsky.social @broederlijkdelen.bsky.social @trocaire.bsky.social. We stressed that the proposed Committee under this instrument must enable affected communities to directly raise cases of #humanrights abuses.

As Quelvin noted, in Guatemala when TNCs face sanctions for human rights or environmental abuses, they run to international arbitration “to coerce the state into allowing them to continue” their harmful activities. Instead, all commercial agreements must respect rights and the planet.

Speaking about Article 14, Quelvin emphasised the importance of establishing that human rights take precedence over trade and investment agreements, particularly #ISDS.

On Day 3 of the negotiations for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights at the UN in Geneva, we heard a powerful intervention by @trocaire.bsky.social partner the Xinka Parliament's legal advisor Quelvin Jiménez.

Day 2: Tuesday 21 October - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Check out this page via the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

More updates on Day 2 of the negotiations for a binding treaty: www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-ne...

As the negotiations for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights heads into Day 3, Susana Hernandez of @cidse.bsky.social summarises the first 2 days of the session, where oil-rich Gulf States have been to the fore in defending trade and investment agreements. @trocaire.bsky.social

Incredibly proud to be here in Geneva advocating for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights in the company of such a strong and committed defender as Margarita. Those who defend life should be celebrated - instead in our upside down system they are attacked and imprisoned. We need a Treaty.

“Mother nature is not a market”: Crunch time for the UN Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights - Trócaire

"We are triply discriminated against: for being indigenous, for being women, and for being poor.’

Human Rights Defender, Margarita Domingo is at the UN this week representing the Council of the Mayan People, defending human rights:
www.trocaire.org/news/mother-...

Margarita called for all business and investment projects on indigenous territories to recognise the autonomy and right to free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, and that all of our futures depend on no longer treating the Earth as a commodity but as a sacred being.

On Day 2 of the 11th Session of negotiations for a #bindingtreaty on #businessandhumanrights, the delegates heard the powerful opening statement from Margarita Domingo, Mayan indigenous woman representing @trocaire.bsky.social partner the Council of Mayan Peoples, which generated applause.

Hugely important work Chris. Wishing you every success in getting a binding treaty for human and planetary rights🙏🏼

Corporate power and impunity grow at a huge cost to people and the planet, among them these amazing human rights and environmental defenders. But in truth their struggle is all the struggle of all of us. It is time for a Treaty.

Happy to be here at the United Nations in Geneva in the company of @trocaire.bsky.social partners from Guatemala for the 11th Session of negotiations for a #bindingtreaty on #BusinessandHumanRights.

As negotiations on a binding business and human rights treaty approach a critical stage at the United Nations, the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights, Trócaire and partners from Guatemala are making an impassioned testimony at Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade last night.

Mass protests and strikes for Gaza bring Italy to a standstill Roads and ports were blocked and schools closed after unions called for general strike over Israel’s war on Gaza.

Sweeping strikes and nationwide protests seized parts of Italy today as pressure mounts on Giorgia Meloni’s government to take a stronger stand against Israel over its war in Gaza.

Opinion | What Happened to Human Rights for Palestinians?

ICC judges, the UN, Albanese, Palestinian NGOs, who's next?

The #Trump administration has launched an assault on international justice - and those who claim to stand for it are missing in action, EU included

Joint oped by @amnesty.org & @hrw.org: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...

Scientists announce that 7 of 9 key 'planetary boundaries' have been crossed A team of global scientists issued a new report on Wednesday, noting that seven out of nine of key "planetary boundaries" have been crossed. Carbon dioxide emissions have increased ocean acidification...

New research shows that ocean acidification has now crossed the planetary boundary. That's 7 of 9 boundaries crossed. Capitalism is driving ecological catastrophe and will continue to do so until we align production to a new law of value.

www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Yesterday at the EP, Prof. Jäger presented new evidence: the #CSDDD brings major economic benefits for Europe 🌍

This is about building fairer, more sustainable futures 🌍

Study 👉 buff.ly/ZQDV8QK

How forced Uyghur labour could be woven into your wardrobe Behind the 'sustainable' labels on Ireland's high streets, cotton from China's Uyghur region is still slipping through. RTÉ Investigates uncovers the routes of forced labour and the systems that fail ...

Bangladeshi factories using cotton from "companies linked to a Chinese forced labour programme are supplying some of Ireland's major clothing retailers".

RTÉ investigation by @joegalvin.bsky.social confirms that Ireland/EU not doing enough on supply chain abuse.

www.rte.ie/news/investi...

I was proud to take part in this action by the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights to resist the EU #deregulation agenda and to call on Irish MEPs to stop the race to the bottom and defend #rulestoprotect.
This action was timed to coincide with the #BacktotheFuture march in Brussels.