Human Rights, Corporate Complicity and Disinvestment

Cambridge University Press, 9/22/2011
EAN 9781107012851, ISBN10: 1107012856

Hardcover, 290 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm
Language: English

How can businesses and their shareholders avoid moral and legal complicity in human rights violations? This central and contemporary issue in the field of ethics, politics and law is of concern to intergovernmental organizations such as the UN and to many NGOs, as well as investors and employees. In this volume legal scholars and political philosophers identify and address the intertwined issues of moral and legal complicity in human rights violations by companies and those who invest in them. By describing the legal aspects of human rights violations in the corporate sphere, addressing the complicity of companies with regard to such norms and exploring the influence of investors, the book provides a thorough introduction to corporate social responsibility. Human Rights, Corporate Complicity and Disinvestment will set the research agenda on socially responsible investment for years to come.

1. Introduction Gro Nystuen, Andreas Follesdal and Ola Mestad
2. Disinvestment on the basis of corporate contribution to human rights violations - the case of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Gro Nystuen
3. Laws, standards, or voluntary guidelines? Simon Chesterman
4. Responsibility beyond the law? Christopher Kutz
5. Attribution of responsibility of listed companies Ola Mestad
6. Responsibility for human rights violations, acts or omissions, within the 'sphere of influence' of companies Urs Gasser
7. Human rights investment filters - a defense Andreas Follesdal
8. The moral responsibilities of shareholders - a conceptual map Helene Ingierd and Henrik Syse
9. Sovereign-wealth funds and (un)ethical investment
using 'due diligence' to avoid contributing to human rights violations committed by companies in the investment portfolio Bruno Demeyere
10. Corporations and criminal complicity Andrew Clapham.

Advance praise: 'This outstanding volume of essays uses the Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Global as a vehicle to explore the scope and extent of states' human rights obligations. Human Rights, Corporate Complicity and Disinvestment will most certainly play an influential role in the progressive development of both corporate and state human rights accountability.' Mark Gibney, Belk Distinguished Professor, University of North Carolina, Asheville