HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS-DOES IT EVEN MATTER?

Abstract

Our starting point implies that the idea of protecting human rights is based on the
relationship between citizens and government. Therefore, the essential function of human
rights has been to protect areas of individual freedom from interference by public authorities.
However, in today’s society, businesses, particularly big multinational corporations, play a
very important role and have a big impact on how people use their rights. It is enough to think
of companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Google etc. Business companies may significantly
contribute to the fulfilment of human rights, through their actions, as demonstrated by the
exercise of the right to employment, the right to education, the right to access information,
the freedom of expression, and freedom of speech etc. However, their commercial endeavours
could potentially violate human rights. The enjoyment of the right to health and privacy,
among other rights, might be considered as having such an influence. Therefore, the issue of
corporate responsibility for human rights has become one of the major challenges for human
rights in the 21st century.
This paper aims to show the relationship between the business and economic sector
and human rights, as well as the necessary reforms for their protection. Thus, the concept of
corporate responsibility for human rights represents a reshaping of the traditional concept of
human rights, which emphasizes the role of the state. The United Nations Guiding Principles
on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the ECHR and the state legislature will all be
reviewed when considering a corporate duty to protect human rights.