Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability in State-Owned Enterprises

This book presents case studies on the human rights performance of state-owned enterprises from four Latin American and three European countries, as well as foreign investments by Chinese state-owned enterprises in these continents. State-owned enterprises are considered among some of the worst perpetrators of contamination and corporate human rights violations around the globe, both domestically and abroad. This volume examines whether companies implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and how their state owners regulate or incentivize their human rights compliance. Studies cover different sectors ranging from finance to extractives and air transport in Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, and Mexico, and allow contrasts between companies from countries with different degrees of human rights regulation, including due diligence and supply chain laws. The work shows that states are rather hesitant to implement the UN Guiding Principles “leading by example”.

The book will be essential reading for academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of international human rights law, comparative administrative law and corporate social responsibility.