Joint NGO Submission on Human Rights and the Extractive Industry - 2005

The ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group submitted a Joint NGO Report to a UN Consultation on Human Rights and the Extractive Industry in Geneva, on 10-11 November 2005. This report highlights patterns of violations in the extractive sector and gaps in the protection of human rights, containing the contributions and input of over twenty groups. The report concludes that there is a need for a common, international set of standards articulating the human rights responsibilities of business, which must ultimately be enforceable. The UN Norms represent a valuable step in this direction.

 

In Memoriam

Ken Saro-Wiwa, Baribor Bera, Saturday Doobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbokoo, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Paul Levura and Felix Nuate

On 10 November 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa, internationally respected human rights and environmental activist, and eight other Ogoni activists were executed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, following months of detention without charges and torture.  These activists were sentenced to death by a ‘Special Tribunal,’ following their non-violent efforts to protect the indigenous Ogoni people from human rights and environmental abuses associated with the oil industry in the Niger Delta.

Participation and Contributions
The ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group thanks the following individuals and organizations for their contributions and input to this Joint NGO Submission: Tricia Feeney (RAID), Hubert Tshiswaka (ACIDH), Alessandra Masci (Amnesty International), Legborsi Pyagbara (MOSOP), Chris Newsom (Stakeholder Democracy), Bill Van Esveld (International Human Rights Clinic, New York University School of Law), Nick Hildyard (The Corner House), Lillian Manzella (EarthRights International), Joji Cariño (Tebtebba Foundation), Ingrid Gorre (LRC-KsK), Mario Melo and Juana Sotomayor (Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales), Ute Hausmann (FIAN), Elisabeth Strohscheidt (Miseror), Fraser Reilly-King (Halifax Initiative Coalition), Ravi Rebbapragada and Sreedhar Ramamurthi (mm&P), Roger Moody (Mines and Communities), Gavin Hayman (Global Witness), Daniel Owusu-Koranteng (WACAM), Joris Oldenziel (SOMO/ OECD-Watch), Daria Caliguire and Chris Grove (ESCR-Net Secretariat).

We also express our gratitude to Human Rights Watch for allowing us to include their case study, ‘Sudan, Oil and Human Rights.’  In addition, we recognize that there are many other cases that could have been incorporated and, more importantly, there are dozens of other excellent organizations (some of whom are highlighted in this document) that are researching and advocating on the extractive industries.

We are particularly grateful to Tricia Feeney, co-coordinator of the ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group and Director of Rights and Accountability In Development (RAID), for her leadership in drafting this Joint NGO Submission.