A/HRC/31/50
related human rights abuses. Likewise, she stressed that a binding instrument was one step
further towards strengthening the primacy of human rights in the context of business
activities. Therefore, the creation of a legally binding instrument was of paramount
importance.
II. Organization of the session
A.
Election of the Chair-Rapporteur
5.
At its first meeting, on 6 July 2015, the working group elected María Fernanda
Espinosa Garcés, Permanent Representative of Ecuador, as its Chair-Rapporteur by
acclamation after her nomination by the representative of Guatemala on behalf of the Group
of Latin American and Caribbean States.
B.
Attendance
6.
Representatives of the following States Members of the United Nations attended the
meetings of the working group: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia
(Plurinational State of), Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy,
Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Republic
of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Namibia, the
Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Singapore,
South Africa, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam.
7.
The European Union participated in the meetings held on 6 July and on the morning
of 7 July. France stayed during the whole session.
8.
The following non-member States were represented by observers: the Holy See and
the State of Palestine.
9.
The following intergovernmental organizations were represented: the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Council of Europe, the United Nations
Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, the United Nations
Children’s Fund, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the South Centre.
10.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council were also represented (see Annex III).
C.
Documentation
11.
The working group had before it the following documents:
(a)
Resolution 26/9 on the elaboration of an international legally binding
instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to
human rights;
(b)
4
The provisional agenda of the working group (A/HRC/WG.16/1/1);
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