Despite the continuous addition of regulatory initiatives concerning corporate human rights responsibilities, what we witness more often than not is a situation of corporate impunity for human rights abuses. The Bhopal gas leak – examined as a site of human rights violations rather than as a mass tort or an environmental tragedy – illustrates that the regulatory challenges that the victims experienced in 1984 have not yet been overcome. This book grapples with and offers solutions to three major regulatory challenges to obligating companies to comply with human rights norms whilst doing business, and asks; why companies should adhere to human rights, what these responsibilities are, and how to ensure that companies comply with their responsibilities. Building on literature in the fields of law, human rights, business ethics, management, regulation and philosophy, this book proposes a new ‘integrated theory of regulation’ to overcome inadequacies of the existing regulatory framework in order to humanize business. This book will be of interest to scholars, students, researchers, policy makers and human rights activists working in the fields of Law, Business and Human Rights.

The first of its kind, this comprehensive interdisciplinary textbook in Business and Human Rights (BHR) connects and integrates themes, discussions, and issues in BHR from both legal and non-legal perspectives, and provides a solid foundation for cross-disciplinary conversations. It equips students, teachers, and scholars with the necessary knowledge to navigate and advance evolving BHR debates, and fosters a thorough understanding of the academic foundations, evolving policy spaces, and practical approaches in BHR. Short cases throughout translate conceptual insights into practical solutions. Study, reflection, and discussion questions help readers to consolidate and synthesize their understanding of the material and provide stimulating frameworks for debate in the classroom and beyond. The book features a collection of online resources to support students and instructors in their preparation for courses and assignments.

This book provides a sustained treatment of the politico-legal context and content of a proposed business and human rights treaty.

This book is a thought-provoking and authoritative text on this fast moving field of international law.

Business corporations can and do violate human rights all over the world, and they are often not held to account. Emblematic cases and situations such as the state of the Niger Delta and the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory are examples of corporate human rights abuses which are not adequately prevented and remedied. Business and human rights as a field seeks to enhance the accountability of business – companies and businesspeople – in the human rights area, or, to phrase it differently, to bridge the accountability gap. Bridging the accountability gap is to be understood as both setting standards and holding corporations and businesspeople to account if violations occur. Adopting a legal perspective, this book presents the ways in which this dual undertaking has been and could be further carried out in the future, and evaluates the extent to which the various initiatives in the field bridge the corporate accountability gap. It looks at the historical background of the field of business and human rights, and examines salient periods, events and cases. The book then goes on to explore the relevance of international human rights law and international criminal law for global business. International soft law and policy initiatives which have blossomed in recent years are evaluated along with private modes of regulation. The book also examines how domestic law, especially the domestic law of multinational companies’ home countries, can be used to prevent and redress corporate related human rights violations.

In a global economy, multinational companies often operate in jurisdictions where governments are either unable or unwilling to uphold even the basic human rights of their citizens. The expectation that companies respect human rights in their own operations and in their business relationships is now a business reality that corporations need to respond to. Business and Human Rights: From Principles to Practice is the first comprehensive and interdisciplinary textbook that addresses these issues. It examines the regulatory framework that grounds the business and human rights debate and highlights the business and legal challenges faced by companies and stakeholders in improving respect for human rights, exploring such topics as: the regulatory framework that grounds the business and human rights debate, challenges faced by companies and stakeholders in improving human rights, industry-specific human rights standards, current mechanisms to hold corporations to account, future challenges for business and human rights. With supporting case studies throughout, this text provides an overview of current themes in the field and guidance on practical implementation, demonstrating that a thorough understanding of the human rights challenges faced by business is now vital in any business context.

Amidst the significant societal changes defining our time, the interplay between human rights, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility has become a global concern. These crucial elements have become a focal point in global discussions, demanding in-depth exploration. Issues such as the impact of business decisions on human rights, the rights of marginalized communities, and the formulation of policies for sustainability and social well-being underscore the urgency of understanding this intricate relationship. It is within this context that Bridging Human Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility: Pathways to a Sustainable Global Society is a vital resource. This book, drawing insights from law, social sciences, economics, and environmental studies, delves into the heart of these challenges, offering a comprehensive analysis that addresses the ethical and sustainable dimensions of our rapidly changing global landscape. To undertake a profound examination of the complex interplay between human rights, sustainability, and social responsibility, the book proposes an interdisciplinary methodology that incorporates insights from various academic disciplines, including law, social sciences, economics, and environmental studies. It seeks to shed light on the essential role of human rights in supporting sustainable development and socially responsible behavior in societies undergoing rapid change. This study includes an in-depth examination of the rights of marginalized communities, an analysis of the impact of business on the preservation or violation of human rights, and an exploration of policy and legal frameworks that can simultaneously promote sustainability and enhance social well-being. The overarching goal is to provide a comprehensive framework for academics and experts in human rights, environmental science, public policy, and corporate social responsibility, making a significant contribution to the integration of diverse academic disciplines and fostering interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration.

Explores the conceptual and legal underpinnings of global governance approaches to business and human rights, with an emphasis on the UN Guiding Principles.

This book addresses the ever more urgent question as to whether individuals, indigenous peoples or other vulnerable groups should be entitled to remedies under international law for violations of their human rights by transnational corporations. Using the tools of policy-oriented jurisprudence, the author analyzes, in great historical and cross-cultural detail, the various claims involved, including the status of corporations and their purpose and growth beyond borders in the era of globalization; countervailing demands for respect and rights of individuals and groups; the changing role of the nation-state in international law; movements for corporate social responsibility and corporate accountability; trends in decision both domestically and internationally; as well as voluntary codes. Her appraisal of past decisions and suggestions leads her to conclude that only binding international legal remedies against transnational corporations can fully address the legitimate claims of individuals or groups.

We live in an era of proliferating international legal domains and institutions, not least in the human rights field. For some, normative pluralism within human rights is inevitable, and even desirable. Others view it as a threat to the integrity and coherence of international human rights protection. How far do human rights standards and their interpretation by different regional and international human rights systems diverge? To what extent do human rights bodies ‘borrow’ from or influence each other in respect of their case law, practices and procedures? Is global human rights protection fragmenting or heading towards greater coherence? This edited collection addresses these questions through the insights of leading scholars and jurists with first-hand experience of human rights adjudication and litigation.