From October 20 to 24, 2025, negotiations on a legally binding instrument on business and human rights will take place in Geneva (11th session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights).
The UN treaty aims to establish binding rules for companies to respect human rights and provide better access to justice for
victims of human rights violations. If adopted, it will pave the way for comprehensive legislation to regulate supply and value chains at the global level, including liability rules for more companies and effective legal protection for all people.
At our online briefing, participants will report live from the Palais des Nations in Geneva on the status of the negotiations. What progress has been made in the negotiations so far? How are countries and groups of states (especially Germany, the
EU, and South Africa) performing in the negotiations? What positions are civil society groups and trade unions taking?
There will also be a brief outlook on how the UN treaty process will continue after this round of negotiations and how the Chair intends to use the additional resources for 2026 and 2027.
Speakers include:
- Melanie Wündsch, Research Associate in the International Human Rights Policy Department of the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR)
- Gabriele Köhler, Board Member of Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF) Germany
- Ruwan Subasinghe, Legal Director at the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
- Siviwe Rikhotso, Program Manager Labour, Economic Alternatives, Communications, Southern Africa Regional Office, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
- Moderator: Celia Sudhoff, Project Manager, Global Policy Forum Europe
Please register here by October 20, 2025.
This event is part of the project ‘Corporate Responsibility in the United Nations 2025’ by Global Policy Forum Europe, funded by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
