학술논문

COVID-19, Business, and Human Rights: A Wake-Up Call to Revisit the "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework?
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
International Community Law Review. 2021, Vol. 23 Issue 5, p433-449. 17p.
Subject
*COVID-19 pandemic
*HUMAN rights
*INTERNATIONAL obligations
*GOVERNMENT liability (International law)
*SOCIAL responsibility of business
Language
ISSN
1871-9740
Abstract
COVID-19 has affected the full range of human rights, though some rights holders have experienced a disproportionate impact. This has triggered debate about the respective obligations and responsibilities of states and business enterprises under international human rights law. Against this backdrop, this article examines critically whether the "protect, respect and remedy" framework operationalised by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is "fit for the purpose" to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. I argue that while the UNGPs' framework provides a good starting point, it is inadequate to bring transformative changes to overcome deep-rooted socio-economic problems exposed by this pandemic. Realising human rights fully would not only require harnessing the potential of states' tripartite obligations, but also move beyond limiting the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]