Dr. Chris O'Connell:

Regarding negotiations and what needs to shift, I might ask Ms Quijano on enforceability and the issues of scope, which are the subject of ongoing discussion. For us, the focus on transnational corporations is key. That should be the priority. There is an argument that all business needs to internalise the practice and principles of human rights and environmental due diligence. That is key. We should not be weighing up how much human rights violation and destructive is acceptable versus how much profit. That is not a credible conversation. Regarding what needs to shift, we have and we are moving towards a strong text. What we need now is political backing for that, or at the very least less political opposition. States that care about and put human rights front and centre in their foreign policy should be behind this process and should ensure, through whatever means that are at their disposal, that they do not block this process so that we get a strong treaty.