On March 8 2024, OECD Watch, along with Business at OECD (BIAC) and TUAC, representing business, workers, and non-governmental organisations, issued a joint statement urging governments and the OECD to take concrete actions to ensure the effectiveness of National Contact Points (NCPs).

In particular, the three organisations call on governments to ensure their NCPs have the necessary human and financial resources, senior leadership, and access to expertise to fulfil their mandate effectively. The statement emphasises the importance of maintaining meaningful relationships between NCPs and civil society, as well as with their respective governments and other stakeholders.

The statement also urges the OECD Investment Committee and the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct to support efforts to improve NCP effectiveness and stresses the importance of these bodies recommending improvements to NCPs that fail to adhere to the Guidelines.

Lastly, the letter calls on the OECD Ministerial Council, the highest political body of the OECD, to recognise the role of the OECD Guidelines in promoting sustainable development and ask governments to ensure a fully functioning NCP.

For further details, please refer to the complete statement below.

Joint Statement on NCPs.pdf