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transmitted <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Commission on Human Rights (“Commission”) (UN Sub-Commission on <strong>the</strong> Promotionand Protection of Human rights. Responsibilities of transnational corporations and o<strong>the</strong>r bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprises withregard <strong>to</strong> human rights (E/CN.4/SUB.2/RES/2003/16). 20 Oct. 2003). In 2004 <strong>the</strong> Commission did threeth<strong>in</strong>gs: first, confirmed <strong>the</strong> importance of TNCs responsibilities regard<strong>in</strong>g human rights; second, requested<strong>the</strong> Office of <strong>the</strong> High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) <strong>to</strong> report on <strong>the</strong> legal status of current<strong>in</strong>itiatives; and third, affirmed <strong>the</strong> norms have no legal stand<strong>in</strong>g, and ordered <strong>the</strong> Sub-Commission not <strong>to</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g functions (Sub-Commission. The effects of <strong>the</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g methods and activities of transnationalcorporations on <strong>the</strong> enjoyment of human rights (E/CN.4/SUB.2/RES/2004/16). 9 Aug. 2004).92The Norms will have an effect <strong>in</strong> both <strong>the</strong> short and long term. In <strong>the</strong> short term, <strong>the</strong> Norms will become <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>ternational standard for corporate human rights responsibilities. In <strong>the</strong> long term, <strong>the</strong> Norms may serve as abluepr<strong>in</strong>t for future <strong>in</strong>ternational standards. It is also <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> note that human rights treaties usually growout of declarations or o<strong>the</strong>r “soft-law” <strong>in</strong>struments as a necessary step <strong>in</strong> consensus build<strong>in</strong>g required for treatydraft<strong>in</strong>g.93UN Sub-Commission on <strong>the</strong> Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. “Preamble.” Norms on <strong>the</strong> responsibilitiesof transnational corporations and o<strong>the</strong>r bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprises with regard <strong>to</strong> human rights (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/12/Rev.2). 26 Aug. 2003. TNCs are fur<strong>the</strong>r obligated <strong>to</strong> “… respect generally recognised responsibilities and normsconta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> United Nations treaties and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>ternational <strong>in</strong>struments…” some of which are listed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>preamble.94Ibid.95UN Sub-Commission on <strong>the</strong> Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. Commentary on <strong>the</strong> Norms andresponsibilities of transnational corporations and o<strong>the</strong>r bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprises with regard <strong>to</strong> human rights (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/38/Rev.2). 26 Aug. 2003. ). [Here<strong>in</strong>after referred <strong>to</strong> as UN Commentary.]96As with <strong>the</strong> discrim<strong>in</strong>ation provision conta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Global Compact, its exclusion does not mean it isirrelevant <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> discussion on CSEC. It is worth not<strong>in</strong>g, that <strong>the</strong> provision enumerates age as grounds fordiscrim<strong>in</strong>ation, and <strong>the</strong>n specifically states that children may be given greater protection.97UN Sub-Commission on <strong>the</strong> Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. Norms on <strong>the</strong> responsibilities oftransnational corporations and o<strong>the</strong>r bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprises with regard <strong>to</strong> human rights (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/12/Rev.2). 26 Aug. 2003. Po<strong>in</strong>t 20. [Here<strong>in</strong>after referred <strong>to</strong> as UN Norms.]98Ibid., po<strong>in</strong>t 21.99Ibid., po<strong>in</strong>t 22.100Ibid., po<strong>in</strong>t 23.101UN Sub-Commission on <strong>the</strong> Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. “Preamble.” Norms on <strong>the</strong> responsibilitiesof transnational corporations and o<strong>the</strong>r bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprises with regard <strong>to</strong> human rights (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/12/Rev.2). 26 Aug. 2003. The list of <strong>document</strong>s is extensive. Some notable examples are: <strong>the</strong> Slavery Convention and<strong>the</strong> Supplementary Convention on <strong>the</strong> Abolition of Slavery, <strong>the</strong> Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar<strong>to</strong> Slavery; <strong>the</strong> Convention on <strong>the</strong> Rights of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Child</strong>; <strong>the</strong> United Nations Convention aga<strong>in</strong>st TransnationalOrganised Crime; and conventions and recommendations of <strong>the</strong> International Labour Organisation.102Ibid. Includ<strong>in</strong>g: <strong>the</strong> Tripartite Declaration of Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples Concern<strong>in</strong>g Mult<strong>in</strong>ational Enterprises and Social Policy; <strong>the</strong>Declaration on Fundamental Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples and Rights at Work; <strong>the</strong> Guidel<strong>in</strong>es for Mult<strong>in</strong>ational Enterprises; and <strong>the</strong>United Nations Global Compact <strong>in</strong>itiative).103Ibid.104UN Commentary. 1(a).105Ibid., 1(b). (TNCs have an obligation <strong>to</strong> exercise ‘due diligence’ <strong>to</strong> ensure <strong>the</strong>y do not contribute <strong>to</strong>, or benefitfrom, human rights abuses; refra<strong>in</strong> from activities that underm<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> rule of law and o<strong>the</strong>rs efforts <strong>to</strong> promoteand ensure respect of human rights; and help promote and ensure respect for human rights).106UN Norms, C. Norms po<strong>in</strong>t 3 (specifically: war crimes, crimes aga<strong>in</strong>st humanity, genocide, <strong>to</strong>rture, forceddisappearance, forced or compulsory labour, hostage-tak<strong>in</strong>g, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,o<strong>the</strong>r violations of humanitarian law and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>ternational crimes aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> human person as def<strong>in</strong>ed by<strong>in</strong>ternational law, <strong>in</strong> particular human rights and humanitarian law).107Commentary, 3(a), 3(b).108Norms, po<strong>in</strong>t 4. See also Commentary 4(a) (lists relevant <strong>in</strong>ternational Norms).109Commentary, 4(b), 4(d)Private Sec<strong>to</strong>r Accountability <strong>in</strong> Combat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Commercial Sexual Exploitation of <strong>Child</strong>ren|113

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