Amnesty International USA

WHEREAS markets and resources are increasingly interconnected in today's emerging global economy, enabling corporations to operate with a new level of immunity and independence of traditional national borders, laws, and regulations which in the past have served to check corporate abuses of power;

WHEREAS recent instances of human rights abuses aggravated by irresponsible business practices such as the close relationship between ExxonMobil and the government of Indonesia or the pervasive practice in the garment industry sub-contracting with companies that employ sweatshop labor, have illustrated that there is a need for research and monitoring similar to that used to monitor the human rights abuses committed by states;

WHEREAS in August of 2003 the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights approved Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights, providing an important first step in addressing the specific issue of human rights in the context of corporate and business structures;

WHEREAS businesses are particularly sensitive to public scrutiny and pressure due to a desire to protect their public image or "'brand" making them potentially receptive to the methods traditionally employed by Amnesty International in other areas;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Amnesty International USA commits to continue significant funding of the Business, Human Rights, and Environment Program beyond the current fiscal year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business, Human Rights, and Environment Program provide grassroots support to members in issues of the complicity in and responsibility for human rights abuses of transnational corporations and businesses. This support is to include training on issues and practical means of empowerment and action; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business, Human Rights, and Environment Program provide a leadership role to the Amnesty International movement globally in documenting and acting to prevent the human rights abuses of transnational corporations and businesses.