Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5
What is the basis for attributing human rights responsibilities to transnational
corporations under international human rights law? .............................................................. 6
International Law ....................................................................................................................... 6
Guidelines, Principles and Voluntary Codes............................................................................. 6
Future Developments ................................................................................................................ 7
What are the State’s obligations to regulate transnational corporations with regard to
human rights violations within its territorial jurisdiction? ...................................................... 7
General Obligations .................................................................................................................. 7
Specific Obligations with regard to known threats .................................................................... 8
Obligations to Provide Remedies.............................................................................................. 8
What are the State obligations to regulate transnational corporations with regard to
human rights violations occurring outside its territorial jurisdiction? .................................. 9
Criminal Jurisdiction .................................................................................................................. 9
Civil Jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................... 10
How useful is the concept of corporate complicity in international crimes to protect
human rights? ............................................................................................................................ 10
Criminal Law ........................................................................................................................... 11
Civil Law .................................................................................................................................. 11
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) ........................................................................ 11
Non-legal Concepts of Complicity ........................................................................................... 12
What jurisdictional barriers exist in enforcing human rights obligations against
corporations? ............................................................................................................................. 12
What role do NHRIs have in ensuring that States regulate the human rights activities of
TNCs, and in educating and/or monitoring corporations involved in human rights
abuses? ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 15
Advocacy ................................................................................................................................. 16
Education ................................................................................................................................ 17
Complaint Handling ................................................................................................................. 18
Other Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 18
Human Rights Defenders ........................................................................................................ 19
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