PROINVERSIÓN IS THE NATIONAL CONTACT POINT FOR THE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT OF THE OECD
Lima, December 8, 2023.- With the presence of senior delegates from the European Union in Peru, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Peru - OECD Multisectoral Commission, the ILO, the UN, UNICEF, UNDP, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Peru, among other actors from the business sector and civil society, the event "Presentation and Launch for Peru of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC)" was organized, to show the country the latest version of the Guidelines after the updates made during this year to this instrument.
The Guidelines are recommendations from governments to multinational companies operating in, or headquartered in, adhering countries. The adhering governments, through a network of "National Contact Points", are responsible for promoting the Guidelines.
In June 2023, the OECD approved the updated Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, responding to the urgent social, environmental and technological priorities facing societies and businesses, reflecting the global expectations of 51 governments for companies on what constitutes responsible business conduct. This 2023 edition, provides updated recommendations in key areas such as climate change, biodiversity, technology and due diligence, as well as the strengthened mandate for National Contact Points (NCPs) for Responsible Business Conduct.
Thus, some of the key changes include recommendations for companies to align with internationally agreed climate change and biodiversity targets. Introduction of due diligence expectations on the development, financing, sale, licensing, trade and use of technology, including data collection and use. Recommendations on how companies are expected to conduct due diligence on impacts and business relationships related to the use of their products and services; among others.
According to the Focal Point and Policy Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at the OECD, Germán Zarama, the changes made to this instrument maintain firm alignment with internationally recognized standards, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the core conventions and declarations of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
PERU'S ACCESSION TO THE OECD
Peru is in the sixth phase of the process to achieve its official accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), informed the Technical Secretariat of the Multisectoral Commission Peru-OCDE of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Giovanna Gómez Valdivia, during the event. She indicated that all levels of the Peruvian State continue to work to comply with the established roadmap and complete the 12 phases required for the OECD accession process and fulfill the Peruvian Government's commitment within the framework of this process. "In the meantime, we continue to coordinate with the respective committees. We have received questionnaires from 20 of the 24 OECD committees. Some of these Committees are scheduling their first fact finding missions and Peru is participating in meetings on "preliminary reviews" and/or "initial discussions", she said.
The Technical Secretariat of the Multisectoral Commission Peru-OCDE of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the challenges and opportunities Peru faces in the implementation of standards and best practices in the process of Peru's accession to the OECD. She recalled that since July 26, 2008, Peru has been a signatory and adherent to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and participates in the activities and meetings of the Investment Committee, the OECD Responsible Business Conduct working groups, and the OECD Global and Regional Network of National Contact Points. The Peruvian Government was informed of these obligations through the invitation sent by the OECD General Secretariat to Peru on July 22, 2008.
Source: Press Release - PROINVERSIÓN