Regulating Corporate Power in the Era of Deregulation

In a world where the governance of transnational corporations remains fragmented, the divide between voluntary standards and binding legal frameworks continues to pose significant challenges. As discussions advance, the prospect of a UN legally binding instrument (LBI) on business and human rights offers a strategic opportunity to reinforce state sovereignty and uphold the primacy of human rights over trade and investment agreements. Amid growing regulatory backsliding and legal uncertainty, including in Europe where advances in corporate accountability are increasingly contested, the LBI has shifted from a long-term aspiration to an urgent necessity to safeguard the primacy of the public interest.

Against this backdrop, the South Centre and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Geneva Office have launched the report ‘The UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights : Regulating Corporate Power in the Era of Deregulation’ on 26 March, at a side-event during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council. The policy paper examines the challenges arising from the current deregulation trends and global governance gaps for transnational corporations. It outlines how a legally binding multilateral instrument can strengthen corporate accountability, protect vulnerable communities and safeguard states’ ability to regulate for the common good.

The event encouraged participants to engage with these critical issues at a pivotal moment – the lead-up to the 12th Session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG), as negotiations on the LBI enter a politically decisive phase. 

Program & Speakers:

• Welcome Message: Ira Gibson, Program Officer, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Geneva Office 
• Presentation of the Report ‘Regulating Corporate Power in the Era of Deregulation’: Daniel Uribe Terán, Lead Program Officer, South Centre 
• 2026 Roadmap for the 12th Session of the OEIGWG on Business and Human Rights: Walter Schuldt, Minister at the Mission of Ecuador to the UN in Geneva 
• The Triple Planetary Crisis and the Need for the LBI: Sibylle Dirren, Accountability, Monitoring and Advocacy Representative, FIAN International 
• Interactive Q&A Session