to increase their share of the market and build their competitiveness. Building their skills, promoting their products, supporting their small businesses and employment opportunities, as well as raising their insight into opportunities and best available sources of supply for their inputs and needs. On a Legally Binding Global Treaty on Business and Human Rights with special regard to Multinational Companies (MNCs) Noting the capacity of business to have a serious effect on the rights and dignity of workers and individuals, including those of surrounding communities; Noting that has been confusion in international human rights law concerning the obligations of business in relation to human and worker rights; Further noting that strong protections have been granted to business through international trade and investment regimes whilst there has been no clarity as to their binding legal obligations in relation to human and worker rights; Noting that business consistently exploit weaknesses in state governance to advance profits without regard to human rights and dignity of the people; Noting that the structure of international business has been conducted through complex structures and supply value chains in which liability for human rights violations are mostly avoided; Noting that there have been serious legal obstacles for victims of human rights violations by businesses that cross borders to gain access to effective remedies, COSATU hereby resolves: To support the current initiative to develop a binding treaty on business and rights as per UN processes, which was strongly initiated by the governments of South Africa and Ecuador;
to increase their share of the market and build their competitiveness. Building their skills, promoting their products, supporting their small businesses and employment opportunities, as well as raising their insight into opportunities and best available sources of supply for their inputs and needs. On a Legally Binding Global Treaty on Business and Human Rights with special regard to Multinational Companies (MNCs) Noting the capacity of business to have a serious effect on the rights and dignity of workers and individuals, including those of surrounding communities; Noting that has been confusion in international human rights law concerning the obligations of business in relation to human and worker rights; Further noting that strong protections have been granted to business through international trade and investment regimes whilst there has been no clarity as to their binding legal obligations in relation to human and worker rights; Noting that business consistently exploit weaknesses in state governance to advance profits without regard to human rights and dignity of the people; Noting that the structure of international business has been conducted through complex structures and supply value chains in which liability for human rights violations are mostly avoided; Noting that there have been serious legal obstacles for victims of human rights violations by businesses that cross borders to gain access to effective remedies, COSATU hereby resolves: To support the current initiative to develop a binding treaty on business and rights as per UN processes, which was strongly initiated by the governments of South Africa and Ecuador;