GPPi contributes to expert hearing organized by SRSG John Ruggie and Global Witness

GPPi Associate Director Thorsten Benner was a speaker at the expert consultation organized by the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie in cooperation with Global Witness. The all-day meeting on ​“Business and Human Rights in Conflict Zones: Role of Home States” was held in Berlin on 5 November 2007 and brought together experts from government, business, civil society organizations, international organizations, think tanks and academia.

In his presentation, Thorsten Benner stressed the need to overcome the current key shortcomings on the part of home states to exercise their responsibility vis-à-vis businesses operating in conflict zones: the lack of political will, the lack of coherence within governments (with different ministries pursuing different strategies), the lack of capacity (in terms of information and intelligence gathering in order to be proactive not just reactive) and the lack of international coordination and cooperation (due to problems of collective action).