The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen) SOMO

SOMO is a Dutch-headquartered NGO that works at a global level to investigate multinational corporations. They support and strengthen civil society movements in defending human rights and promoting public interests.  Through collaboration with civil society, action-oriented research, and critical analysis, they work to  dismantle the structural enablers of corporate power and promote corporate accountability.

SOMO has nearly 50 years of experience in researching violations of economic, social and cultural rights by multinational corporations globally. Its research aims to contribute to making complex corporate structures accountable, address the maximizing of shareholder value / growth at all costs model that corporations often implement and restrain monopoly and rentier power. To further focus its strategy and achieve real impact, SOMO has selected and developed three flagship initiatives (climate justice, big tech and pharma).

One important initiative at SOMO is the Mind the Gap Consurtium (www.mindthegap.ngo), which aims to expose harmful corporate strategies that result in the avoidance of responsibility for human rights or environmental impacts, and subsequently strengthen civil society to implement counter-strategies and advocacy trajectories for claiming and defending human rights.

SOMO facilitates and supports cooperation among civil society organisations through a global network where they  work in close collaboration with CSOs from all parts of the world. They actively participate in other thematic global networks, and are host to several networks including GoodElectronics, Lobbywatch, MVO Platform, OECD Watch,  and Tax Justice NL.