Week 14
Pe0512
FutureofIHRPFinalLectureSpr.2019.pptxMNCs Human rights and the future of the international project
Spring 2019 INR 4075
Spotlight on the bottom-line
Kathie Lee Gifford –Central America
Walt Disney Company—Haiti
Nike & Reebok –SE Asia
"The problem is, we don't own the factories," a Disney spokesperson protested. "We are dealing with a licensee."
Green Fuel –Ethanol Program Zimbabwe
Has Zero Reputation to defend, only operates in Zim
Only works for specific kinds of companies, brand names share holders and reputations.
No Sweat
Force garment makers to comply with US labor laws.
Along with adhering to codes, factories also had to open themselves for regular inspection.
Codes rather than laws can work to change behavior
Voluntary consent
US and Other Large Multinationals Carry with them their reputations
1996 Reebok soccer balls “Made without Child Labor”
Burma-–Levi Strauss, Macy’s, Liz Claiborne, and Eddie Bauer
What can be done
Sue the Company
Boycott the Company
Weak and Inconsistent
Shifted Risk Calculus for Multinationals
Rio Tinto
75 percent of the worlds oil is controlled by companies in the global south
What can be Done (2)
Subcontractors are invisible
Landgrabs are done by Singaporean and Malaysian corporations you have never heard about
What is a new international architecture to pressure these MNCs
“There are still huge protection gaps, he admits, that need to be addressed. But in his view it is only practical to focus on the most egregious abuses. He is especially concerned about the lack of capacity of small and medium sized companies at the national level. “Transnational companies are sometimes more conscious of corporate social responsibility than national companies,” he observed.”
THE Uae
Drafted criminalization and punishment provisions to easily prosecute political activists.
Penal Code Article 182
147th in global democracy index
119 of 167 in Freedom of Information and Press Index
BAE Systems British Technology for used for spying on its own citizens (Eye of the Falcon System)
Kafala system : “the right of the worker to change their job and to leave the country without their sponsor's permission, as well as their right to resign from their work”
Solutions
Investigate the multinational companies dealing with the UAE authorities and charge them
with responsibility for violating the privacy of political activists, human rights defenders and
bloggers, violating the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and violating the
economic and social rights of workers within the UAE.
Call upon these corporations to abide by the guidelines of institutions and human rights
adopted by the Human Rights Council No. 4/17 of 16 June 2011, and to examine and reform
the terms of their cooperation with the UAE until all legal, judicial and effective guarantees of
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms that are enshrined in international
charters are provided.
Urge the Emirati government to respect human rights and freedom of expression and to
refrain from using repressive means to infringe on the privacy of human rights defenders or to
limit freedoms under the pretext of combating terrorism and protecting national security.
Freedom of Press
The future of IHRP
Progress has been made throughout the last two decades.
Creation of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Increased Readiness of the Humanitarian community
The increased Tendency for the Security Council to include human rights in all peace operations
New mandates to work against genocide
Internal Difficulties remain to be the largest challenge facing the agenda.
Hurdles: Bureaucratically or Culturally
Questions
In your opinion how do MNCs have positive impact?
In your opinion, how do MNCs negatively impact the global south?
Given some companies do not have reputations to uphold, how can we approach and mend certain human rights abuses? Do you have any novel solutions?
Do you shop conscientiously?
As many of you in this course, either currently live, or have relatives around the world, what is the largest human rights challenge facing the international community today? Or, is there one that may occur that we are overlooking?
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