Abstract
One of the most pressing issues confronting the human rights regime today, is the extent to which it can hold non-state actors accountable for human rights violations. Traditionally, human rights law is aimed at regulating the relationship between states and their citizens, but in an increasingly globalised world, where corporations have both widespread impacts on human rights and the power and resources to rectify these violations, there have been increased calls for holding corporations directly accountable. This talk will discuss three recent developments from the African continent on corporate accountability and human rights: (1) the (qualified) recognition by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights of corporate responsibility arising from the UNGPs, (2) the revised mining law in Sierra Leone which increases human rights obligations and accountability of corporations operating in the extractive industries, and (3) a decision from the South African Constitutional Court recognizing corporate SLAPP suits (strategic litigation against public participation) as an abuse of process in violation of the right to freedom of expression. These developments show efforts at national and regional levels to increase corporate accountability for human rights violations, but continuing challenges will also be highlighted.
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Meeting ID: 694 9065 2015
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