WUNRN
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, HUMAN
RIGHTS, & WOMEN
WOMEN are often the victims of
corporate human rights violations such as in the garment factories of
Bangladesh, the evictions by mining companies, the environmental pollution by
factories that damages health as in the Niger Delta, privatization as of water
resulting in less availability and higher costs, the inadequate leverage in
labor contracts and benefits, the abuse of women human rights defenders
advocating for community rights over corporate interests. As women are the
majority of the undereducated and poor, they often, especially in developing
countries, do not have the sophisticated actions, or money for high paid
lawyers, or payoffs as to governments for vested interests. They may be
silenced, threatened. Biofuels and other corporate driven projects may destroy
their sustainable food production. Poverty may (even illegally) result in child
(girls) labor and subsequent dropping out of school. Some corporations are
increasingly attentive to human rights. But the advertising and public
relations messages may be very different from the realities at the
grassroots level for women. There are encouraging efforts to advocate for human
rights principles, accountability, and actions by businesses and corporations.
But, in an increasingly globalized world, if we follow the power, privilege,
and profit, we still have to struggle for corporate respect and policies for
women's human rights.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EUROPEAN
CORPORATIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ABROAD.
TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CORPORATE DUE
DILIGENCE EXTEND TO SUBSIDIARIES?
The
Legal, Trans-National Focus Of This Document Can Be Very Significant
for
Corporate Dimensions of Women's Rights & Social Justice Advocacy.
Direct Link to Full 3-Page 2014
Document:
ECCHR
Policy Paper - European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights - August
2014
When
corporations conduct business activities abroad, whether on their own or
through a subsidiary, the question arises as to their responsibility for human
rights violations. Within the EU, national and European laws on labor, the
environment and consumers’ rights provide quite comprehensive protection for
the human rights of the European population. Outside the EU, there are often
less protection mechanisms and there may be a lack of enforcement of existing
laws; in many cases there is suppression of trade unions and other
organizations.
