The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: The implementation on the international, regional, national and company level

In this book it is analyzed to what extent the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have influenced international, regional and national frameworks and the conduct of companies and if John Ruggie has succeeded in developing practicable Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Guiding Principles and their three pillars – protect, respect and remedy – are described in detail. Furthermore the different legal frameworks are analyzed. On the international level, it is dealt with the relation of the Guiding Principles and the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines, ISO 26000 and the IFC Performance Standards. On the regional level, it is displayed to what extent the European Union and the Council of Europe implement the Guiding Principles. On the national level, it is focused on Austria and the constitution and functioning of the National Contact Point is described. The corporate conduct of two TNCs, Nokia and the Adidas Group, is investigated and if it is in accordance with the Guiding Principles. Therefore, the due diligence process of Nokia, the human rights complaint mechanism of the Adidas Group and the human rights policies of both companies are analyzed.

Katharina Strassmair studied Law and English and American Studies at the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz. During her studies and her exchange semester at the University of Leuven (Belgium), she has focused on human rights and international relations.