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investment has a large physical and social footprint, the chances are that it will generate
pressures that local authorities may need help in managing - and which the home country
development agency might be able to provide.
42. This is but a small sample of issues where more effective policy alignment by States is
required to support the business and human rights agenda.
C. The international level
43. Effective guidance and support at the international level would help States achieve greater
policy coherence. The human rights treaty bodies can play an important role in making
recommendations to States on implementing their obligations to protect rights vis-à-vis corporate
activities.32 Special procedures mandate holders can also highlight relevant issues.33 OHCHR can
contribute to capacity-building in States that may lack the necessary tools by providing technical
advice.
44. States are encouraged to share information about challenges and best practices, thus
promoting more consistent approaches and perhaps increasing their expectations of each other
for protecting rights against corporate abuse. Peer learning would be facilitated by States
including information about business in their reports for the universal periodic review.
45. Where States lack the technical or financial resources to effectively regulate companies
and monitor their compliance, assistance from other States with the relevant knowledge and
experience offers an important means to strengthen the enforcement of human rights standards.
Such partnerships could be particularly fruitful between States that have extensive trade and
investment links, and between the home and host States of the same transnationals.
46. Finally, the OECD Guidelines are currently the most widely applicable set of
government-endorsed standards related to corporate responsibility and human rights. Most
recently updated in 2000, their current human rights provisions not only lack specificity, but in
key respects have fallen behind the voluntary standards of many companies and business
organizations. A revision of the Guidelines addressing these concerns would be timely.
D. Conflict zones
47. It is well established that some of the most egregious human rights abuses, including those
related to corporations, occur in conflict zones. The human rights regime cannot function as
intended in the unique circumstances of sporadic or sustained violence, governance breakdown,
32
In June 2007, the Special Representative met with treaty body representatives to discuss their
emerging guidance.
33
In June 2007, the Special Representative met with other human rights mandate holders to
share experiences.
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