International Soft Law, Human Rights and Non-state Actors: Towards the Accountability of Transnational Corporations?

Abstract

During this age of globalisation, the law is characterised by an ever diminishing hierarchical framework, with an increasing role played by non-state actors. Such features are also pertinent for the international enforceability of human rights. With respect to human rights, TNCs seem to be given broadening obligations, which approach the borderline between ethics and law.

Agonistic Pluralism and Stakeholder Engagement

“…The most viable prospect is a noncompulsory binding arbitration vehicle that approximates soft law in its normative bearing. Soft law is most commonly defi ned to include hortatory, rather than legally binding, obligations (Guzman & Meyer, 2010 ;Pariotti, 2009 ), and arbitration of stakeholder issues would refl ect a similar normative authority. Firms comply with soft law (e.g., ILO conventions) because it is widely accepted as exemplifying principles and standards of good practice; while providing many of the advantages of hard law, it is considerably less complex in terms of obligation, precision, and enforcement (Abbott & Snidal, 2000 ).…”

Odgovornost nedržavnih aktera

“…upravo od ovog horizontalnog efekata zavisiće i to da li transnacionalne korporacije imaju obaveze i da li mogu biti odgovorne. 26 Poslednjih godina, u zemljama u razvoju, javlja se koncept korporativne socijalne odgovornosti. On podrazumeva da su korporacije obavezne ne samo da maksimizuju interese svojih učesnika, da ograniče negativne aspekte svojih radnji i da poštuju pravo, već i da doprinesu socijalnom razvoju i da izađu u susret interesima šireg spektra učesnika.…”

The Main Ways of Interpreting the Phenomenon of Transnational Corporations in Social Sciences

“…Развитие КСО также предполагает не только действия фирмы в интересах акционеров, но и внесение вклада в социальное развитие и удовлетворение потребностей более широкого круга заинтересованных сторон. К обязательствам в поле корпоративной социальной ответственности можно отнести уважение суверенитета и политической системы принимающего государства, соблюдение гражданских и коллективных прав, воздержание от коррупционных практик, соблюдение законодательства в области налогов и конкуренции, а также обязанность ТНК не злоупотреблять своей экономической властью для ухудшения благосостояния стран, в которых они действуют [25,145].…”