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Activist engagementResponsible Business Initiative on the death penalty
Article by Louis Linel published on July 19th, 2019On the occasion of the meeting of its Steering Committee on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June 2019, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty has invited the director of Responsible Business Initiative Against the Death Penalty, Ms. Celia Ouellette, to present the involvement of companies against the capital punishment alongside with traditional activists.
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I. Companies are strong advocates for human rights
The economy plays a decisive and clear role in society. Specifically, during elections, issues on employment, economic growth or stability occupy a prominent place in public debates and political speeches. Companies are full part of the economic life and of its underlying issues whatever they have choose their head office or the nature of their investments and partnerships. This influence may be considerable and gives them a privileged position to engage in dialogue with governments, including those from the remaining retentionist States; it also assumes a necessary responsibility regarding their ethical choices and a specific social project.
Beside broader concerns for fundamental liberties and human rights (Levi Strauss’ CEO has committed himself against gun violence, at least in his company’s shops while Disney has put pressure on the State of Georgia about its reforms on the right to abortion for women), the commitment against the death penalty is increasingly becoming one of the concerns raised by socially responsible corporations . According to Celia Ouellette, these are not isolated or temporary actions but a true “organic movement”.
The idea behind Responsible Business Initiative is to create and support the link between States – that wish to protect their economic interests – and businesses and trade leaders who want to see an end to capital punishment and renew their strategies.
II. An actors network for the abolition of the death penalty
Whether through chambers of commerce, via trade relations aboard or exchanges leaded by States, private or public companies constitute a great network of local and/or international actors that may play a key role and have something to say on the promotion of human rights.
Some of them are already committed for a while, like the EU Trade Department and the businesses Lush Cosmetics and Virgin – who were either present or shared their support to the abolitionist movement during the 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in February in Brussels, Belgium. They give this movement as well its message a unique visibility in the world – in favor of criminal systems in which the right to life is better respected.
III. A workshop to strengthen mobilizations strategies
The members of the Steering Committee involved into a brainstorming session during which they collectively though about new strategies to adopt and new actors to reach out: syndicates for employees or employers, specialized media, foundations, entrepreneurs and/or philanthropy networks, consumers’ associations, business from the tourism sector (in line with the campaigns led in Brunei against the Sultan’s decision to carry out execution for same-sex intercourses) or even in trade schools (as they form entrepreneurs of tomorrow).
Celia Ouellette took time to answer questions from the members of the Steering Committee on the issues of such a dialogue to undertake. This dialogue must include three parts: activists, companies involved in CSR and States. It is part of a broad movement for a fairer global society, in direct line with Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 on the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies and access to justice for all.
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