Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Execution. Never Again - NGO Coalition demands Corporate Accountability

It has been 15 years since the Nigerian human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed for standing up for the social and economic rights of the Ogoni people against Shell. Last year, after 14 years of struggle, his family and the Ogoni people finally received compensation (settled out of court). Shell is still not accountable for its other ecological and social injustices in Nigeria. Gas flares, polluted waters, displacement of peoples, we need to hold European Companies accountable for their action.

That is why on 10th November 2010, hundreds of NGOs across Europe, forming part of the European Coalition of Corporate Justice (ECCJ – http://www.corporatejustice.org/), held debates, actions, and film screenings to highlight the need for legislation that holds corporations accountable for their social and environmental actions.

ECCJ is a European network bringing together over 250 civil society organisations present in 15 European countries. Members include the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and national affiliates of Oxfam, Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth. Activities happened in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden in order to urge the EU to take measures that will stop corporate abuses and provide access to justice for victims of these abuses.

The coalition demanded:
(1) liability – that EU companies are legally accountable for any harm they cause to people and the environment internationally;
(2) transparency - that European companies disclose accurate information about their impacts on people and the environment;
(3) access to justice - that non-EU victims of the operations of European companies have access to justice in the EU.

Companies operating in the EU cannot continue to externalise their social and environmental costs. Instead they should be socially responsible by treating people and the environment fairly.

The European Commission is preparing a new Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - to be launched in 2011. The Action Day was aimed at promoting the message of ECCJ’s campaign “Rights for Peoples - Rules for Business” (http://www.rightsforpeople.org/), which aims to collect 100,000 signatures from citizens around Europe in support of ECCJ’s demands. By adding your signature to the petition, we can make this happen together.

Rights for People can only be achieved through legislation that ensures Rules for Business.

Information provided by Nishma Doshi, European Coalition of Corporate Justice