Business and Human Rights at the UN

Wetzel, Julia Ruth-Maria

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31325-2_6

Business and Human Rights at the UN

Julia Ruth-Maria Wetzel²

Chapter
First Online: 29 April 2016

1020 Accesses

Abstract

The UN has been at the forefront of the business and human rights discourse for over 10 years. It has established two global initiatives of considerable magnitude and impact in the area and continues to advance the dialogue between the shareholders. The UN Global Compact and the UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” framework have considerably changed the bottom line of corporate human rights compliance and will continue to impact corporate policy in the coming years.

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Notes

1.
UN Global Compact – Corporate Sustainability in the World Economy, p. 1. Roth (2014), p. 76. Koeltz (2010), p. 163. Wieland and Schmiedeknecht (2010), p. 83.
2.
Köster (2010), p. 90. Kaufmann (2007), p. 160. Van der Heijden (2012), p. 22.
3.
UN Global Compact – Corporate Sustainability in the World Economy, p. 1. See also Köster (2010), p. 90. Roth (2014), p. 77.
4.
Leisinger (2010), pp. 32–33. Federal Council Position Paper (2015), p. 20.
5.
UN Global Compact – Corporate Sustainability in the World Economy, p. 1.
6.
Köster (2010), p. 90.
7.
UN Global Compact – After the Signature, p. 11, Koeltz (2010), p. 164.
8.
UN Global Compact – After the Signature, p. 11.
9.
UN Global Compact – After the Signature, p. 11.
10.
UN Global Compact – After the Signature, p. 12.
11.
Rasche and Kell (2010), p. 4. UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 10.
12.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 11.
13.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 12. Koeltz (2010), p. 165.
14.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 12.
15.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, pp. 14–16.
16.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 18.
17.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 20.
18.
UN Global Compact – Management Model, p. 20.
19.
Note on the UN Global Compact , p. 1, http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/human_rights/Note_on_Global_Compact_Business_Human_Rights.pdf.
20.
UN Global Compact Principle One.
21.
United Nation Global Compact Human Rights, http://www.unglobalcompact.org/AboutTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/humanRights.html.
22.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
23.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
24.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
25.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
26.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
27.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2. Koeltz (2010), p. 168.
28.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
29.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
30.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 1.
31.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2.
32.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2.
33.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2.
34.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2.
35.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 2.
36.
Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: A Resource for Companies and Investors, http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/Peace_and_Business/Guidance_RB.pdf.
37.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
38.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
39.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
40.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
41.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3. See also the Danish Institute for Human Rights Country Risk Portal, http://www.humanrights.dk/files/Importerede%20filer/hr/pdf/Dokumenter%20til%20Nyhedsarkiv/HRB_Country%20Risk%20Portal%20Announcement%20-%20Jan%2011%202010.pdf.
42.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
43.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
44.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
45.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
46.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 3.
47.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
48.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
49.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
50.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
51.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
52.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 4.
53.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
54.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
55.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
56.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
57.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
58.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
59.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
60.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
61.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
62.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 5.
63.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 6.
64.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 6. The Global Compact cites workplace safety, freedom of association, prevention of displacement of groups or individuals, protecting the local community and fostering the education and inclusion of minorities as way to encourage human rights as part of their business operations.
65.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 7.
66.
UN Global Compact Principle One, p. 7.
67.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 1.
68.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 1.
69.
For an in-depth analysis of the aiding and abetting, see Sect. 6.2. See furthermore Sect. 4.5.
70.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 1.
71.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 2.
72.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 2.
73.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 2.
74.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 2.
75.
UN Global Compact Principle Two, p. 2.
76.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 63. See also Ruggie (2001), pp. 372–374.
77.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 63. Koeltz (2010), p. 174.
78.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 64.
79.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 64. See also Ghafele and Mercer (2010), p. 54.
80.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 64.
81.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 65. Supported by King (2001), p. 483.
82.
Karp (2014), p. 32. Additionally Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 66.
83.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 67. See also Ghafele and Mercer (2010), p. 47.
84.
Nolan (2005), p. 460. Deva (2006), p. 150. Oshionebo (2007), pp. 23–25.
85.
Nolan (2005), p. 460. Koeltz (2010), p. 175.
86.
Nolan (2005), p. 460. Lohmann (2005), p. 121.
87.
Deva (2006), p. 150. Oshionebo (2007), p. 22.
88.
Oshionebo (2007), p. 20. Ghafele and Mercer (2010), p. 47.
89.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 67.
90.
Taylor (2001), p. 980.
91.
Taylor (2001), p. 980.
92.
Thérien and Pouliot (2006), p. 69. Roth (2014), p. 24. Koeltz (2010), p. 177.
93.
Bigge (2004), p. 12.
94.
Bigge (2004), p. 13.
95.
Nader, Corporations And The UN : Nike And Others “Bluewash” Their Images, San Francisco Bay Guardian, http://www.commondreams.org/views/091900-103.htm.
96.
John Ruggie was the former Assistant Secretary-General and senior advisor for strategic planning to Kofi Annan as well as being the Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and affiliate Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law School. He furthermore directed the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation system-wide. Ruggie was praised with the Guggenheim Fellowship, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellowship and the International Studies Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award.
97.
A/HRC/4/35. See generally Schniederjahn (2013), pp. 111 et seq.
98.
A/HRC/4/35.
99.
A/HRC/4/35, p. 3.
100.
A/HRC/4/35, p. 3. Martens (2014), p. 11.
101.
A/HRC/17/31.
102.
E/CN.4/2006/97.
103.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 4.
104.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 4.
105.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 4.
106.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 5.
107.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 5.
108.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 5.
109.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 5.
110.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 5.
111.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 6.
112.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 6.
113.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
114.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
115.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
116.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
117.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
118.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 7.
119.
Oil, Gas and Mining Industry.
120.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 8.
121.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 8.
122.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 8.
123.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 8.
124.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 8.
125.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 9.
126.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 9.
127.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 9.
128.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 10. See Sect. 6.1.
129.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 10.
130.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 10. See Sects. 5.1 and 5.2.
131.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 12.
132.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 12.
133.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 13.
134.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 14.
135.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 14.
136.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 14.
137.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 15, para. 59.
138.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 15, para. 59.
139.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 15, para. 60.
140.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 15, para. 61.
141.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 16, para. 64. See also Sect. 4.3.2.
142.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 16, para. 65.
143.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 16, para. 65.
144.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 16, para. 65.
145.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 17, para. 66.
146.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 17, para. 66.
147.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 17, para. 68.
148.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 17, para. 68.
149.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 18, para. 70.
150.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 18, para. 70.
151.
E/CN.4/2006/97, p. 20, para. 81.
152.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 2.
153.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 3.
154.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 3.
155.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 3.
156.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 4.
157.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 4.
158.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 4.
159.
See Chaps. 7 and 8.
160.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 4.
161.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 4.
162.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
163.
Only 23 % of the corporations questioned mentioned shareholders and investors as their targets for human rights policies, while employees were referred to 99 % and communities at 71 %.
164.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
165.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
166.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
167.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
168.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
169.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 5.
170.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 6.
171.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 6.
172.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 6.
173.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 6.
174.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 7.
175.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 7.
176.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 8.
177.
Fortune Global 500 Survey, p. 8.
178.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 3, para. 4. Martens (2014), p. 14.
179.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 3, para. 3.
180.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 3, para. 3.
181.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 4, para. 5. Murphy and Vives (2013), p. 784.
182.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 4, para. 9.
183.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 4, para. 9.
184.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 5, para. 9.
185.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 5, para. 9.
186.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 5, para. 11.
187.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 6, para. 17. Bilchitz and Deva (2013), pp. 10–11.
188.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 10, para. 29. Kaufmann et al. (2013), p. 34. Leisinger (2010), p. 109.
189.
Sweden requires independent sustainability reports of state-owned companies using the Global Reporting Initiative. Guidelines for External Reporting by State-owned Companies, http://www.government.se/content/1/c6/09/41/20/dd8dadf3.pdf.
The UK Companies Act 2006 Section 172 (1) requires directors to have regard to the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment.
See Pinto and Evans (2013), pp. 263 et seq. for a detailed discussion of the UK Companies Act.
190.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 11, para. 32.
191.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 11, para. 32. See Sect. 7.4.4.3.3.
192.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 12, para. 38.
193.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 11, para. 34.
194.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 11, para. 34.
195.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 11, para. 34.
196.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 12, para. 36.
197.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 13, para. 43.
198.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 13, para. 44.
199.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 13, para. 45.
200.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 13, para. 45.
201.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 13, para. 47.
202.
S/2008/18, paras. 16–18.
203.
S/2008/18, para. 20.
204.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 14, para. 49.
205.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 14, para. 49.
206.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 14, para. 49.
207.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 14. See generally Mares (2010), pp. 34 et seq.
208.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 14. Leisinger (2010), p. 109.
209.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 15.
210.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 15. This was the main argument against the UN Draft Norms.
211.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 16.
212.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 17. See also Chap. 7.
213.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 17.
214.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 17.
215.
Ruggie names anti-discrimination policies in the workplace as an example of active mechanisms falling under the “doing no harm” requirement. Leisinger (2010), p. 109.
216.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 19. Leisinger et al. (2010), p. 32. Van der Heijden (2012), p. 33. Leisinger (2010), p. 110.
217.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 19, para. 67.
218.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 19. See Sect. 2.2.
219.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 19.
220.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20.
221.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20.
222.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 4.
223.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20.
224.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20.
225.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 17.
226.
A/HRC/8/16. See furthermore Karp (2014), p. 83.
227.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
228.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
229.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
230.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
231.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
232.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
233.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
234.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 7.
235.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 8.
236.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 8.
237.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 18.
238.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 18.
239.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 18. See Chap. 7.
240.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 18.
241.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20. See also Leisinger et al. (2010), p. 32. Leisinger (2010), p. 111.
242.
A/HRC/4/35, paras. 22–32.
243.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21. The Norwegian Government pension fund has divested from corporations such as Walmart and GenCorp for their complicity in human rights violations . See also Chesterman (2008), pp. 577 et seq.
244.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 20.
245.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
246.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
247.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
248.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
249.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 10.
250.
Simić Appeal Judgment, para. 85; Blaškić Appeal Judgment, paras. 45, 46; Vasiljević Appeal Judgment, para. 102; Ntagerura et al. Appeal Judgement, para. 370. See also Sect. 3.2.1.
251.
Blagojević Appeal Judgment, para. 127.
252.
Blaskic Trial Judgment, para. 285, citing Furundžija Trial Judgment, para. 233 and Aleksovski Trial Judgment, para. 61.
253.
Blaškić Appeal Judgment, para. 48.
254.
Yearbook of the International Law Commission 1996, Vol. 2, p. 21.
255.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 11.
256.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 1.
257.
Kvocka Trial Judgment, para. 257, citing Aleksovski Trial Chamber Judgement, para. 65 and Akayesu Trial Chamber Judgement, para. 693.
258.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21. Compare to Wettstein in Sect. 4.5.
259.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
260.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 13.
261.
Aleksovski Appeal Judgment, para. 162.
262.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 13.
263.
See Sect. 3.2.1.
264.
Presbyterian Church of Sudan v. Talisman Energy Inc. , 453 F. Supp. 2d 633 at 634.
265.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
266.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
267.
A/HRC/8/16, pp. 13–14.
268.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 16.
269.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 16.
270.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 21.
271.
A/HRC/8/16, p. 21.
272.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 21.
273.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22. Murphy and Vives (2013), p. 784.
274.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
275.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
276.
See Sect. 6.2.3.4.5.
277.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
278.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
279.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22. Murphy and Vives (2013), p. 784.
280.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
281.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 22.
282.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 23. See Sect. 3.3.
283.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 23. Statutory limitations can include forum non conveniens and foreign policy concerns.
284.
Owusu v. Jackson, C-281/02, EU: C: 2005 : 120, para. 46.
285.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 23.
286.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 23.
287.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
288.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
289.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
290.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
291.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
292.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 24.
293.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 25.
294.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 25.
295.
See Sect. 5.1.2.1.
296.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
297.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
298.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
299.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
300.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
301.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 26.
302.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
303.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
304.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
305.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
306.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
307.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 27.
308.
A/HRC/8/5, p. 28.
309.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 4. Martens (2014), p. 14.
310.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 5. See also UN Interpretive Guide on the Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights, http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Business/RtRInterpretativeGuide.pdf.
311.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 6.
312.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
313.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
314.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
315.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
316.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
317.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
318.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 7.
319.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 8.
320.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 8.
321.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 8.
322.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 8.
323.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 8.
324.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
325.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
326.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
327.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
328.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
329.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
330.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 9.
331.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 10.
332.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 10.
333.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 10.
334.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 10.
335.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 10.
336.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
337.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
338.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
339.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
340.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
341.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
342.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 11.
343.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
344.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
345.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
346.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12. Compare Ratner (2001–2002), p. 456.
347.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
348.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
349.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
350.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 12.
351.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
352.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
353.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
354.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
355.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
356.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
357.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 13.
358.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
359.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
360.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
361.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
362.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
363.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
364.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 14.
365.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 16.
366.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 16.
367.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 16.
368.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 16.
369.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
370.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
371.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
372.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
373.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
374.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
375.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 17.
376.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 18.
377.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 18.
378.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 18.
379.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
380.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
381.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
382.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
383.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
384.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
385.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 19.
386.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
387.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
388.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
389.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
390.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
391.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 20.
392.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 21.
393.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 21.
394.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 21.
395.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 22.
396.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 22.
397.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 22.
398.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 23. Schniederjahn (2013), p. 112.
399.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 23.
400.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 23.
401.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 23.
402.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
403.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24. Schniederjahn (2013), p. 113.
404.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
405.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
406.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 25. Schniederjahn (2013), p. 113.
407.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 25.
408.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 27.
409.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
410.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
411.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 24.
412.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 25.
413.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 25.
414.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 26. See Sect. 7.4.3.
415.
A/HRC/17/31, p. 26.
416.
Blitt (2012–2013), p. 51. See also Business and Human Rights: New United Nations Guidelines, European Commission, June 17th 2011. Additionally: Human Rights Council Resolution 17/4, Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises, 17th Session, June 16th 2011. Federal Council Position Paper (2015), p. 28.
417.
Melish and Meidinger (2012), p. 303. Blitt (2012–2013), p. 51. Bob Corcoran, VP of General Electric, Richard Wong, VP of Flextronics and Edward E. Potter, Workplace Rights at Coca-Cola have all written to John Ruggie commending his effort. See Blitt (2012–2013), Footnote 113, p. 52.
418.
“UN human Rights Council adopts Guiding Principles on Business Conduct, yet Victims still waiting for effective Remedies”, Fédération Internationale des Droits de l’Homme, http://www.fidh.org/en/globalization-esc-rights/business-and-human-rights/UN-Human-Rights-Council-adopts.
419.
UN Human Rights Council: Weak Stance on Business Standards, Human Rights Watch, http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/06/16/un-human-rights-council-weak-stance-business-standards.
420.
United Nations: A Call for Action to better Protect the Rights of Those Affected by Business-Related Human Rights Abuses, Amnesty International, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/IOR40/009/2011/en. See also Karp, p. 153.
421.
Blitt (2012–2013), p. 54. Ruggie recognizes the problem but contends that at this moment in time, business and states are opposed to creating such binding obligations. Ruggie (2011), pp. 117 et seq.
422.
Bilchitz and Deva (2013), p. 12.
423.
Bilchitz and Deva (2013), p. 12.
424.
Bilchitz (2008), pp. 760–761. Compare Martens (2014), p. 11.
425.
Bilchitz and Deva (2013), pp. 16–17.
426.
Bilchitz and Deva (2013), p. 17.
427.
Melish and Meidinger (2012), p. 304.
428.
Melish and Meidinger (2012), p. 305.
429.
Melish and Meidinger (2012), p. 335.
430.
Melish and Meidinger (2012), p. 336.
431.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 3.
432.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 3.
433.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 3.
434.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 37.
435.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 38.
436.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 38.
437.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 41.
438.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 42.
439.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 43.
440.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 43.
441.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 45.
442.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 45.
443.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 45.
444.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 45.
445.
Cata Backer (2010), p. 45.
446.
Mares (2012) , p. 81.
447.
Bijlmakers (2013), p. 298.
448.
Amerson (2012), p. 933.
449.
Amerson (2012), p. 933. See also Lewis (2002).
450.
Amerson (2012), p. 934.
451.
Amerson (2012), p. 935. See also Murninghan, Human Rights: A Moral and Material Business Concern, The Murninghan Post, http://murninghanpost.com/2011/06/30/human-rights-a-moral-and-material-business-concern/.
452.
Ruggie (2013), p. 124.
453.
Ruggie (2013), p. 124.
454.
Ruggie (2013), p. 124.
455.
Ruggie (2013), p. 124.
456.
Larry Cata Backer’s comment at the UN Panel on Human Rights and Business in Geneva in December 2013.
457.
A/HRC/17/4.
458.
Human Rights Council Resolution 26/22.
459.
Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/WGHRandtransnationalcorporationsandotherbusiness.aspx.
460.
See also Sect. 7.5.
461.
State National Action Plans, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/NationalActionPlans.aspx. UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Forum/Pages/ForumonBusinessandHumanRights.aspx.
462.
John Ruggie responds to Bilchitz/Deva, Human Rights Obligations of Business: Beyond the Corporate Responsibility to Respect ?, http://business-humanrights.org/sites/default/files/media/ruggie-comment-surya-deva-david-bilchitz.pdf.
463.
Response of Surya Deva and David Bilchitz to Comments of Professor John Ruggie, Human Rights Obligations of Business: Beyond the Corporate Responsibility to Respect ?, http://business-humanrights.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/surya-deva-david-bilchitz-re-ruggie-15-01-14.pdf.

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Julia Ruth-Maria Wetzel

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Wetzel, J.RM. (2016). Business and Human Rights at the UN. In: Human Rights in Transnational Business. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31325-2_6

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