The Department of State is pleased to announce the appointment of David B. Sullivan as the new U.S. National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (on Responsible Business Conduct) and a Senior Adviser for Corporate Social Responsibility. This is an important position for promoting business conduct that is commercially viable and conducted in a manner consistent with high standards related to labor, the environment, human rights, and other sustainability factors. Mr. Sullivan’s appointment reflects our objective to further enhance the NCP role, as a part of broader efforts to promote sustainable economic policies, including a foreign policy that benefits all Americans.
The Guidelines, established in 1976, and most recently updated in 2011, are the leading set of comprehensive guidance from governments on responsible business conduct. The role of the NCP is to promote awareness of the Guidelines, to facilitate their practical application, and to seek to resolve, through mediation or conciliation, disputes or “specific instances” regarding an enterprise’s conduct.
Mr. Sullivan brings to this role a wealth of experience in human rights, investment policy, dispute settlement, and multilateral diplomacy. His years of service in a number of important positions within the Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser have included close work with both business and civil society.
Further information and resources about the U.S. NCP and the Department’s work on Responsible Business Conduct may be found here: https://www.state.gov/responsible-business-conduct/.
