Campaign Background

Companies must not "infringe on the rights of others”. This statement by the UN Special Representative for business and human rights, Professor John Ruggie, neatly sums up what this topic is all about. He wants companies to develop procedures to reduce the negative effects of their activities on human rights. Only then can they live up to their duty to respect human rights. The Berne Declaration investigated the financial connections between the largest Swiss banks, Credit Suisse and UBS, and companies involved in controversies about serious human rights violations. The case studies show how the life of local populations, of workers, and activists is threatened by resettlements, forced displacements or conflicts about water and land.

Although not directly involved in these human rights violations the banks become complicit through their business activity. By lending to such companies or helping them raise capital, Credit Suisse and UBS become complicit in any human rights violations committed in the process. The UN Special Representative shares this view:

"Banks are obliged to care about human rights (…), and the human rights risks of projects are likewise risks for the accountability and the image of banks."

With the case studies documented on our website we underline the changes we want these Swiss Banks to make. Credit Suisse and UBS must give human rights the respect they deserve in their guidelines and standards. And we want them to make these standards public because the time for secrecy in the field of human rights as elsewhere is definitely over.

Comprehensive background paper about Swiss banks and their way with human rights: PDF