Research Handbook on Global Governance Business & Human Rights

This essential Research Handbook provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of the global governance instruments related to business and human rights from an interdisciplinary perspective. Contributions from a diverse range of leading international scholars offer an overview of the existing literature and rapidly-evolving research discipline, as well as identifying key trends and outlining an ambitious future research agenda.

The Research Handbook first examines governance initiatives that operate across economic sectors, discussing both public and private initiatives at state, regional and international levels that seek to develop, implement and enforce rules with regard to the impacts of transnational business activities on human rights. Chapters then investigate particular economic sectors – including textiles, electronics, agro-chemical, construction, and finance – to assess the ways in which different initiatives attempt to mitigate risks and address business-related human rights abuses.

Scholars of law, regulatory governance, global governance, management, human rights and social sciences who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the emerging business and human rights regime will find this Research Handbook a crucial read. It will also prove a useful and thorough introduction for students, scholars and practitioners new to the field of business and human rights.

Contents:

1 Global governance of business and human rights: introduction 1
Axel Marx, Kari Otteburn, Diana Lica, Geert van Calster and Jan Wouters
2 The United Nations Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights: an
analysis of its emergence, development and potential 21
Radu Mares
3 Business and human rights and regional systems of human rights
protection: applying a governance lens 44
Claire Methven O’Brien
4 The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights:
what contribution are the National Action Plans making? 75
Carmen Márquez Carrasco
5 Transparency and human rights in global supply chains: from
corporate-led disclosure to a right to know 99
Olga Martin-Ortega
6 Human rights due diligence instruments: evaluating the current
legislative landscape 120
Robert McCorquodale
7 Public procurement as an instrument to pursue human rights protection 142
Sope Williams-Elegbe
8 Voluntary standards for business and human rights: reviewing and
categorizing the field 161
Andreas Rasche
9 The efficacy of voluntary standards, sustainability certifications, and
ethical labels 176
Elizabeth A. Bennett
10 No ISO fix for human rights: a critical perspective on ISO 26000
guidance on social responsibility 204
Stéphanie Bijlmakers
11 Seeking remedies for corporate human rights abuses: what is the
contribution of OECD National Contact Points? 228
Kari Otteburn and Axel Marx
12 Business and human rights: what role for National Human Rights Institutions? 253
Linda C. Reif
13 The role of Human Rights Ombudsman Institutions in business and
human rights 273
Jernej Letnar Černič
14 Regulating human rights in the textile sector: smoke and mirrors 290
Justine Nolan
15 The electronics industry: governance of business and human rights
against a background of complexity 311
Peter Pawlicki
16 Biotechnologies and concentration in the
agro-biochemical-technological market: risks and challenges for human rights 333
Ana Luiza da Gama e Souza
17 Human rights and the global construction sector: deconstructing the
challenges faced by low-wage workers 357
David Segall
18 Ensuring financial sector compliance with human rights: from the
UNGPs to complicity 379
Marta Bordignon

Index