Report - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

• Pacific governments are trying to increase trade and investment in developing countries.
However, <strong>the</strong>re is a need for <strong>the</strong> UN to regulate international corporations and promote
corporate responsibility in order to ensure that a human rights approach is incorporated in
trade, investment and development, and o<strong>the</strong>r related activities and enterprises. The Sub-
Commission on Human Rights has drafted human rights-based norms for transnational
corporations, which are useful for governments as a mechanism for regulating international
corporations. States who are signatories to human rights treaties are duty holders, with
contingent responsibilities for regulating private companies operating within <strong>the</strong>ir jurisdictions.
• Donors can sometimes limit States from fulfilling <strong>the</strong>ir human rights obligations by imposing
contrary conditionalities. In some cases, donor policies are also not implemented. For example,
in Papua New Guinea <strong>the</strong>re has been no consultation with local communities, nei<strong>the</strong>r has
information been given to <strong>the</strong>m about <strong>the</strong> Bank’s loan and associated project. This, despite
<strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Asian Development Bank’s involuntary resettlement policy. If properly
implemented, this policy could be a useful tool to hold both <strong>the</strong> Government and <strong>the</strong> Bank
accountable for ensuring that evictions in Papua New Guinea are conducted in a manner that
is consistent with human rights standards and legal obligations.
Poem (a reflection on <strong>the</strong> aid problem in Bougainville):
“Flavour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> month/decade”
Here <strong>the</strong>y come with <strong>the</strong>ir backpacks
Full <strong>of</strong> papers and for one month
There might be an agenda or two
Hidden down under.
They smile at us…woo us into love and friendship
They look at us…
Getting a feel for what we feel like…
Am I <strong>the</strong> right flavour
Are we <strong>the</strong> right flavour
Is it HIV-AIDS
What is it <strong>the</strong>n
‘Peace Making’ and ‘Conflict resolution’
Is it with a tag that reads;
‘Good Governance’ and ‘civil society’,
What will it be next What was it in <strong>the</strong> 1990’s
Was it ‘Literacy’ Or ‘violence against women’
Was it ‘capacity building’ for NGOs and CBOs
Did I hear something about linking, networking, and skill development
Of course it was about mining, logging, and advocacy
Did <strong>the</strong>y say something about nuclear testing at some stage
Or did I not hear it right
Women and Children’s health was what <strong>the</strong>y were targeting.
No you are mistaken; it is micro – finance,
For that is <strong>the</strong> way to go mate, <strong>the</strong> way to alleviating poverty.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 29