Sphere of Influence and Non-Complicity
Sphere of Influence
“The extent of a company’s ability to act on its human rights commitment may vary depending on the human rights issues in question, the size of the company, and the proximity between the company and the (potential) victims and (potential) perpetrators of human rights abuses.
However, a company does not have complete control over every business partner, and cannot be responsible for the actions of partners over which it has little influence. The closer a company is to actual or potential victims of human rights abuses, the greater will be its control and the greater will be the expectation on the part of stakeholders that the company is expected to support and respect the human rights of proximate populations.
Similarly, the closeness of a company’s relationship with authorities or others that are abusing human rights may also determine the extent to which a company is expected by its stakeholders to respond to such abuse.“ www.unglobalcompact.org
However, a company does not have complete control over every business partner, and cannot be responsible for the actions of partners over which it has little influence. The closer a company is to actual or potential victims of human rights abuses, the greater will be its control and the greater will be the expectation on the part of stakeholders that the company is expected to support and respect the human rights of proximate populations.
Similarly, the closeness of a company’s relationship with authorities or others that are abusing human rights may also determine the extent to which a company is expected by its stakeholders to respond to such abuse.“ www.unglobalcompact.org
Avoiding Complicity in Human Rights Abuses
“Many agree that "complicity" is a difficult concept to appreciate and categorize, and understanding complicity in order to avoid complicity in human rights violations, represents an important challenge for business. As the dynamics between governments, companies, and civil society organizations is changing, so too does our understanding of when and how different organizations should take on responsibilities for human rights issues. The participation of the company need not actually cause the abuse. Rather, the company’s assistance or encouragement has to be to a degree that, without such participation, the abuses most probably would not have occurred to the same extent or in the same way.” www.unglobalcompact.org
Avoiding complicity in human rights abuses is an important challenge for companies. As the dynamics between governments, companies, and civil society organizations change, so too does the understanding of when and how different organisations should take on responsibilities for human rights issues.
Resource: Final Report of the Expert Legal Panel on Corporate Complicity in International Crimes
Avoiding complicity in human rights abuses is an important challenge for companies. As the dynamics between governments, companies, and civil society organizations change, so too does the understanding of when and how different organisations should take on responsibilities for human rights issues.
Resource: Final Report of the Expert Legal Panel on Corporate Complicity in International Crimes