Human Rights and Corporate Accountability -- Any Hope?

Harvard professor John Ruggie, special rapporteur for the U.N. Secretary General, has released the report, “Business and Human Rights: Mapping International Standards of Responsibility and Accountability for Corporate Acts,” announced the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

Professor Ruggie's introduction states, "History demonstrates that without adequate institutional underpinnings markets will fail to deliver their full benefits and may even become socially unsustainable." The report seems to find governments responsible for not implementing human rights regulations consistently and, therefore, leaving a gap for business to violate human rights.

But the report stops short of recommendations. Instead, it points to its findings as an "essential first step" in mapping the existing legal framework and again asks for an extension in time to further develop the themes. The report gives important information about trends in human rights law and corporate abuses.

Have a close read and see what you think.