These are stronger tools for companies to assert protection over their investments. The strongest tool they have is access to international arbitration tribunals. It costs, for both them and states, millions of dollars to have their disputes heard. Affected communities and public interest groups do not have access to that mechanism. There's been no creation of such mechanisms through these agreements. That's a significant problem and is a reason we have not supported them. We do advocate for those stronger controls as part of our work.
On September 27th, 2012. See this statement in context.