THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

Popular vote on 29th November 2020

The Emmaus Switzerland Federation supports the initiative on Responsible Business and recommends voting YES.

The Responsible Business Initiative states the obvious: when multinational companies, based in Switzerland, pollute rivers or destroy entire regions, they must be held responsible!
Anyone who uses child labour or destroys the environment must be held accountable.
Time and time again, multinational companies violate human rights or are responsible for destroying the environment. With this initiative, they would be obliged not to look away, but rather to act preventively in order to avoid harming humans or the environment.
Unscrupulous multinationals take advantage of the situation in countries that do not have a functional judicial system. They use child labour or destroy the environment without fearing any consequences. This is why this initiative is necessary.

 www.initiative-multinationales.ch 

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

Need to inform the population/mobilise citizens

Mobilisation within the different Emmaus Swiss groups:
- information stalls
- screening of an explanatory film
- displaying and handing out flyers

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

All the member groups of the Emmaus Switzerland Federation

- Emmaus Community in Fribourg
- Emmaus Community in Vaud
- Emmaus Community in Geneva
- Emmaus Community in Ticino
- Emmaus Community in Neuchâtel
- Emmaus Community in Bern
- Emmaus Community in Valais
- Emmaus Jura
- Emmaus Zurich
- Fairmed
- Kinderhilfe Emmaus

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

Political and economic figures, church leaders, human rights and environmental organisations all support the initiative.

It has been a very long process, since the initiative was tabled in April 2015 to the upcoming vote on 29th November 2020.

Awareness of the initiative

Awareness of the initiative

Awareness of the initiative

Registration and participation in the various regional committees

Registration and participation in the various regional committees

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

Involvement of different Emmaus Swiss groups

FUTURE PROSPECTS

If the ‘yes’ vote wins, the Swiss Constitution will be modified as follows:

Article 101a Responsibility of business

1 The Confederation shall take measures to strengthen respect for human rights and the environment through business.

2 The law shall regulate the obligations of companies that have their registered office, central administration, or principal place of business in Switzerland according to the following principles:

a. Companies must respect internationally recognised human rights and international environmental standards, also abroad; they must ensure that human rights and environmental standards are also respected by companies under their control; whether a company controls another is to be determined according to the factual circumstances; control may also result through the exercise of power in a business relationship;

b. Companies are required to carry out appropriate due diligence. This means in particular that they must: identify real and potential impacts on internationally recognised human rights and the environment; take appropriate measures to prevent the violation of internationally recognised human rights and international environmental standards, cease existing violations, and account for the actions taken. These duties apply to controlled companies as well as to all business relationships. The scope of the due diligence to be carried out depends on the risks to the environment and human rights. In the process of regulating mandatory due diligence, the legislator is to take into account the needs of small and medium-sized companies that have limited risks of this kind;

c. Companies are also liable for damage caused by companies under their control where they have, in the course of business, committed violations of internationally recognised human rights or international environmental standards. They are not liable under this provision however if they can prove that they took all due care as per paragraph b to avoid the loss or damage, or that the damage would have occurred even if all due care had been taken;

d. The provisions based on the principles of paragraphs a-c apply irrespective of the law applicable under private international law.

SHARE YOUR PROGRESS AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS INITIATIVE

Awareness of the population on the unscrupulous, or even criminal, practices of some companies.

The multinational lobby is investing millions in a campaign that seeks to confuse voters and distract the public's attention.

Significant citizen mobilisation to counter these lobbyists.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

The role of the Emmaus Switzerland Federation consists, in particular, of forging links with partner associations, lobbying politicians and participating in the debate on the fight against the causes of poverty.

This kind of action makes our different groups visible. It shows the population that we are fighting for human rights and the environment.

The initiative sets clear rules to put an end to unscrupulous practices by some multinational companies. Experience has shown that voluntary measures are not enough to ensure that all multinational businesses respect human rights or minimum environmental standards.

The majority of multinational companies respect the rules. However, some make a mockery of environmental standards or ignore human rights. They gain competitive advantage by shirking their responsibility. This initiative is needed to prevent them from doing so.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?