International NGO Training and Strategy Seminar on the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals
"A tool to combat violations of environmental and workers' rights?" held on 20 March - 22 March 2003 in The Netherlands.

Strong instruments and coalitions are needed to counter the adverse social and environmental effects of multinational enterprises (MNEs). This seminar, organised Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), EED Church Development Service/Germany and IRENE, explored the issue of internationally binding regulations for corporate accountability and whether the revised OECD Guidelines offer a useful tool to support this.

The key question was to what extent and when the revised OECD Guidelines can be used to call MNEs to order when they violate their environmental and social responsibilities, engage in bribery or tax evasion or otherwise inhibit sustainable development.

About 50 participants representing NGOs and trade unions attended the seminar from 37 countries. The seminar was held as a roundtable using showcase presentations, working groups and panel discussion. The programme included opportunities for participants to exchange information and to share their experiences of filing complaints at National Contact Points (NCPs).

For more information contact:peterpennartz@irene-network.nl