Rights group speaks up

18 January 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

The relationship between business and human rights in the face of rapid globalisation was the focus of a conference hosted by the Foundation for Human Rights in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The relationship between business and human rights in the face of rapid globalisation was the focus of a conference hosted by the Foundation for Human Rights in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"If human rights are to matter in small places, they have to matter much more in the international institutions like the UN, regional organisations like the AU and EU, at government levels, and also in the boardrooms of corporations," said Mary Robinson, president of the foundation.

Through the two-day conference with 120 participants, it was hoped that wider debate and consensus around business accountability would be generated.

Speakers included Professor Kader Asmal, Frene Ginwala, Sampie Terreblanche, John O'Reilly, a former British Petroleum executive, Christopher Avery of the London- based Business and Human Rights Resource Centre and EU ambassador Lodewijk Briet. - Sapa