Human Rights

Oxford University Press eBooks, pp. 555–605

Abstract

Abstract This chapter evaluates another element of corporate social responsibility (CSR) applicable to multinational enterprises (MNEs): human rights. Historically, human rights have been used by corporations to protect their vital interests against state action, leading to human/civil rights protections for corporations. The chapter focuses on how far MNEs, and other business actors, should be responsible for human rights violations. This has been significantly influenced by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), endorsed in June of 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, which implement the UN ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ framework. The UNGPs have created a framework for business and human rights that covers three pillars: the state duty to protect human rights, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and access to remedy. The chapter then traces the development of concern for business and human rights, and discusses the justifications for holding businesses accountable for human rights violations, the establishment of business and human rights on the agenda of the UN and the principal areas in which business violations of human rights arise.

Authors 3

1. Muchlinski Peter T

   University of London · SOAS University of London

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

2. Ebbe Rogge Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University

3. Barnali Choudhury

   York University

   Affiliation as printed

   Osgoode Hall Law School