Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Multinational Corporations and Human Rights

Industrial Association-Initiated Norms

The Equator Principles

Initiated in London in 2002 the principles are a banking industry framework for addressing environmental and social risks in project financing of ventures with a total capital cost of at least $50 million, which is based on World Bank/International Finance Corporation standards. Each financial institution that adopts the principles must declare that it has or will put in place internal policies and processes that are consistent with the Equator Principles’ requirement that all proposed projects with a total capital cost of over $50 million are screened and categorised in terms of their social and environmental risk. There is no independent monitoring.

http://www.equator-principles.com

European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) - Guidelines for the Protection of the Environment

Adopted in 1987 the guidelines are the framework of the Environmental Guidelines for World Industry established by the International Chamber of Commerce for chemical companies.

http://www.cefic.be/activities/hse/rc/rcguide.htm

Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

This is an initiative of the World Tourism Organization. The code is a comprehensive set of principles, the purpose of which is to guide various parties in tourism development: central and local governments, local communities, the tourism industry and its professionals, as well as visitors, both international and domestic. Although it is not a legally binding document, its Article 10 provides for a voluntary implementation mechanism through the recognition of the role of the World Committee of Tourism Ethics, to which parties may refer, on a voluntary basis, any matters concerning the application and interpretation of the Code.

http://www.world-tourism.org/code_ethics/eng.html

International Council of Toy Industries Code of Business Practices

Members of the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) formulated the code and member countries adopted it in 1995. After numerous revisions, the code in its current format was officially launched worldwide in 2002. The code addresses labour rights including occupational health and safety. It contains a self-monitoring mechanism being an annual statement of compliance with the code signed by an officer of each manufacturing company or contractor.

http://www.toy-icti.org/publications/bizpractice.htm

International Cyanide Management Code for the Manufacture, Transport, and Use of Cyanide in the Production of Gold 2002

This is a voluntary industry code developed by a multi-stakeholder committee formed under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME). It focuses exclusively on the safe management of cyanide and cyanidation mill tailings and leach solutions.

http://www.natural-resources.org/minerals/CD/docs/unep/cyanidecode/cyanide_code.pdf

Japan Chemical Industry Association – Responsible Care Principles

In April 1995 the Japanese Responsible Care Programme Council was established within the structure of the Japanese Chemical Industry Association (JCIA). The Responsible Care programme requires the top level management of each company to declare their intention to achieve certain standards of occupational health and safety and environmental as set out in defined goals.

http://chemical.kowa.com/environment.html

Retail Council of Canada – Responsible Trading Guidelines

The guidelines may be adopted by Canadian retailers to demonstrate commitment to selling products that are made under humane working conditions. They apply only to finished consumer goods purchased for resale to consumers. The guidelines ask retailers to use reasonable efforts to require their suppliers to provide decent, legal and humane working conditions at the manufacturing stage. Suppliers are also asked to use reasonable efforts to require their contractors to include these guidelines in their contracts.

http://www.retailcouncil.org/membersonly/govrelations/advocacy/it/responsibletrade/trd_guidelines.asp