The Swiss Council of States approves the postulate on compensation for victims
Berne, 26. November 2014
Access to Justice: the First Step
In 2012 the SCCJ petition was filed. One hundred and thirty-five thousand signatories demanded on the one hand that Swiss companies respect human rights and environmental standards around the world, and on the other, that victims be able to claim compensation here in Switzerland. The Foreign Affairs Commit-tee of the Council of States has included this second part of the petition in the postulate adopted today by the Council of States. The report will detail the judicial and non-judicial measures implemented in other countries for people whose human rights have been violated by companies in host States that enable effective access to remedy in the companies’ home state. The Federal Council is to consider what measures would be suitable for Switzerland.
With the adoption of this postulate, the Federal Council has been effectively given the instruction to ana-lyze the third pillar of the UN guiding principles on business and human rights ("access to remedy") in depth. This is necessary because, as the Federal Council writes in its response to the postulate, gaps exist in this area so far. Such a report, "brings updated findings in two areas that have hitherto only been touched on peripherally or considered from different angles." This is why the Federal Council wants to integrate the report in the National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles (see postulate 12.3505).
The SCCJ calls on the Federal Council to take the work on this report quickly in hand so that the National Action Plan (NAP) currently expected in December 2014 is not further delayed. In addition, the coalition expects a clarification of the current gaps in Swiss law and effective measures to improve the situation of those affected.
For questions:
Rahel Ruch, Coordinator, Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice, Tel. +41 76 517 02 08, rahel.ruch(at)alliancesud.ch
Michel Egger, Coordinator, Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice, Tel. +41 79 599 97 30, michel.egger(at)alliancesud.ch
The Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice is an association of 50 development and human rights organi-zations, environmental and women's organizations, trade unions, church groups and critical shareholder associations. The Coalition advocates for clear rules for international companies, so that they must respect human rights and environmental standards worldwide.