State of Remedy 2025
Annual analysis of community and NGO-led National Contact Point complaints concluded in 2025
Our work on remedy
OECD Watch strengthens access to remedy for people and communities affected by business activities. We help civil society organisations use the OECD Guidelines and the NCP complaints process strategically to seek accountability and remedy, and advocate for NCPs to play their full role in facilitating meaningful remedy outcomes.
Our step-by-step complaints guide provides practical advice to civil society on how to file effective and strategic complaints and use the NCP process as part of a broader strategy for achieving remedy. We also provide tailored advice to civil society and community complainant groups throughout the complaint process.
We fight to continuously strengthen expectations for NCPs on ensuring a legitimate complaints process. We publicly measure NCP performance to help galvanise individual and systemic reforms. We also centre remedy in our OECD policy advocacy calling for both stronger standards for companies to remediate harm and clearer expectations for governments to facilitate access to remedy.
We are working to ensure that national and regional laws and policies on corporate accountability clearly underscore the corporate responsibility to remediate.
What the OECD Guidelines say
The OECD Guidelines expect companies to:
- Provide or cooperate in remedy where they have caused or contributed to harm
- Use their leverage to encourage business partners to prvent, mitigate and remedy harm when they are directly linked to it
- Address harm resulting from reprisals against people who raise concerns about business activities.
The Guidelines also give National Contat Points (NCPs) an important role in helping parties reach outcomes that are consistent with the Guidelines, including addressing past harms where appropriate.
Remedy can take many forms, depending on the harm and the needs and wishes of those affected. It can include measures such as compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repittion, apologies or other measures to repair harma nd prevent it from happening again.
Get involved
Want to learn more about OECD Watch’s work on this issue? Get in touch with us to find out more about our advocacy and resources, or to discuss how the OECD Guidelines can support your work. Reach out to us directly.
Related resources
Step-by-step complaints guide
Planning to file an NCP complaint? Our step-by-step guide explains what to consider, how the process works, and how to prepare an effective complaint under the OECD Guidelines.
Read the guide
State of Remedy
Our annual State of Remedy reports analyse NCP complaint outcomes, identify where NCPs and companies are falling short, and track trends and developments.
Explore the State of Remedy reports
Remedy factsheet
Get a practical overview of what the OECD Guidelines say about remedy. Available in:
English
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
How to use the Guidelines
The OECD Guidelines provide civil society with a framework for engaging companies, governments and other decision-makers on responsible business conduct. You can use the Guidelines to:
Help communities and other affected people understand the standards companies are expected to meet and the rights and protections they can demand.
Use the Guidelines to talk to companies about their impacts and demand that they prevent, address and remedy harm.
Use the Guidelines to advocate for strong laws, policies and corporate practices that protect people and the planet and hold companies accountable.
When a company falls below the standards in the Guidelines, you can bring a complaint to an NCP and seek accountability and remedy.
Related news and publications
50 years of the OECD Guidelines: Civil society’s priorities for the next chapter
Last week, OECD Watch joined governments, businesses, trade unions and civil society from around the world in Paris for the OECD’s Responsible Business Conduct Week, marking the 50th anniversary of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational…
50 years of the OECD Guidelines: Contributions, limitations, and what is needed next
Recommendations for the OECD and member governments on the future implementation of the Guidelines
Voices and SIRGE Coalition’s Handbook for Filing NCP Complaints Against Harmful Business Practices
A practical guide for Indigenous Peoples on using the OECD Guidelines to protect their rights
State of Remedy 2024
Analysing community and NGO-led complaints concluded in 2024
State of Remedy 2023
Analysing community and NGO-led complaints concluded in 2023
