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Literature Review: Human Rights Law and Business: Coprporate Responsibility For Fundamental Human Rights

Cernic

In 2010, Jernej Letnar ČERNIČ published his book titled Human Rights Law and Business: Corporate Responsibility for Fundamental Human Rights. We were very fortunate to have ČERNIČ attend WVU’s conference on business and human rights where he discussed many of the concepts that are developed in his book. The book itself is an interesting read, in that it allows one to stop and reflect on both the positive and negative developments which have resulted from globalization. With globalization comes the expanding of economic, social, cultural and political power of corporations, a power expanse which had resulted in conflicting outcomes.

Cernic notes that, although corporate activities can have many positive outcomes (such as increased livelihoods of not only individuals but also communities and governments), the risk still exists that the corporations will violate human rights.

This book calls for a victim-oriented approach to addressing corporations that commit violations against humanity. It goes on to suggest that corporations have normative obligations in relation to fundamental human rights, and further argues that the normative approach to human rights obligations is a result of national legal issues and not necessarily on the international level.

Like most others, this book suggests that corporations must be held accountable for the violations they commit. By utilizing a three-fold responsibility paradigm, the study argues that corporations must corporate, individual, and state responsibility for violations. By holding all accountable, greater strides are made toward easing the human rights violations.

This book was published by Europa Law Publishing in 2010.

Image found at http://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesAndFellowships/MaxWeberProgramme/People/MaxWeberFellows/Fellows2009-2010/Letnar-Cernic.aspx.

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