PIPLinks coordinator Geoff Nettleton attended the inaugral meeting of the newly established ‘UN Working Group on the issues of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises’ on Friday 20th January in Geneva. The Working Group held an ´informal exchange with other stakeholders’. Among the stakeholders present are indigenous representatives and NGOs working for the rights of indigenous peoples.

During the stakeholder’s presentation, several speakers mentioned the need to look at most vulnerable groups and indigenous peoples and stressed the need to focus on the situation at the local level. Working group members were encouraged to establish dialogue with and visit indigenous communities affected by corporate activities.

Geoff spoke at the meeting to stress the recommendations PIPLinks had submitted to the group. These can be viewed at:- http://int.piplinks.org/recommendations-indigenous-peoples-links-%28pipl....

A briefing sheet was produced for the meeting in conjunction with the International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) & other partner groups. That briefing sheet can be downloaded here. (1.25Mbs)